WORK has begun work to improve the quality of a borough lake and its surrounding environment.
At Heathlake, on Nine Mile Road in Wokingham Without, teams have already started setting up.
They will work on site until August 2026 when the project is due to be completed.
Using a dredging machine, they will remove 1,200m3 of silt from the lake, after which they will install systems on the wider drainage network to prevent further silt build-up.
An access track has been created so machinery can access the site, with most of the work taking place near the footpath connecting to Greenfield Way.
There will also be some tree thinning and removal around the banks of the lake to allow more sunlight through, in order to encourage aquatic life and vegetation growth within the lake.
Heathlake, surrounded by woodland and heathland, is a shallow seven acre body of water, and is the only acid lake in Berkshire.
Its naturally high pH supports several rare plants, including water-milfoil, six stamened waterwort and lesser pond weed.
This makes it a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The work, which is funded by Thames Water, is part of the Government’s wider water industry national environment programme, and will help to secure the lake’s special status.
Wokingham Borough Council says it has agreed with Thames Water and Natural England which trees can be removed during the process.
For information, visit: wokinghamcountryside.co.uk, naturalengland-defra.opendata.arcgis.com and www.gov.uk/government/publications
