One of our favourite reserves, it’s amphitheater layout gives a grandstand view of the lakes and to be able to look down and watch a Hobby hawking for dragonflies is an amazing experience.
College Lake was originally the brainchild of one man, Graham Atkins MBE (1945-2014) who, around 40 years ago was the driver of a cement truck for Castle Cement. Having dabbled in other conservation initiatives such as grazing sheep at the back of quarry 2, he then had the audacious idea of developing Pitstone cement works quarry number 3 into a nature reserve. The name, College Lake, comes from College Farm which occupied the site until it was cleared to start quarrying around 1965. The farm was sited near to where the current complex of barns, including the Susan Cowdy centre are. I came across College Lake in very early 1991 when I was brought there as part of a work party by my then employer. The site was only partially developed at that time and was still a working quarry back then. However, it was love at first sight more or less and I kept going back regularly for the next 8 or 9 years until I moved out of the area. I have visited when the opportunity has arisen ever since and still love the place. I noted Rodney Sims in the credits who I knew back in the day. Incidentally, the main visitor centre was called 'The Graham Atkins Centre' when it was opened - does anyone know why it isn't now?
