Friends of South West Lakes

Children walking

By becoming a Friend of South West Lakes, you can support our purpose of protecting special places for wildlife and people.

Your support helps us to further our work and also benefits many young people, families, older people and many others who enjoy the countryside in which our lakes are set.

Our team of countryside wardens and volunteers work hard to enhance the wide range of habitats for the benefit of wildlife, including protected species such as dormice and bats, pollinators, amphibians and bird life. They also make sure our footpaths, cycle trails and play areas are well maintained throughout the year.

Every year, thousands of young people take part in organised activities with our recreation team, both on and off the water. Our activity sessions help to build confidence, enable an active lifestyle and build social skills, whilst making firm friendships in a fun outdoor environment.

We believe engaging with the natural environment enables people to grow

Benefits of being a Friend of South West Lakes Trust

Supporting our work to further enhance special habitats for wildlife and providing opportunities for people to benefit their health and well being by being outdoors
Parking pass for all of our car parks (1 annual pass for single, 2 annual passes for joint & family Friendships)
Tailored gift related to one of our campaigns
Free entry to our Open Days
Regular updates including a monthly e-newsletter
Family membership also includes a family activity pack to help your little adventurers play and explore
Priority invitation to events
A lakes calendar for the upcoming year (sent in Autumn for the following year)
Invitation to our Friends and Volunteers celebration event

Find out more below!

Friend categories and benefits

Each Friendship comes with a number of benefits as listed above. By joining one of our campaigns you will also receive a special gift related to your chosen campaign.

To become a Friend of Longham Lakes in Bournemouth, click here.

Friendship	Donation	Play and Explore	Take the Lead	Love Your Lakes
Single	£35	1 children's explorer pack 1 parking sticker	100 fully biodegradable doggy poo bags 1 parking sticker	2 lakes coasters 1 parking sticker
Joint	£50	2 children's explorer packs 2 parking stickers	200 fully biodegradable doggy poo bags 2 parking stickers	4 lakes coasters 2 parking stickers
Family	£55	3 children's explorer packs (please tell us if you have more than 3 children) 2 parking stickers A fun 101 Things to Do guide	200 fully biodegradable doggy poo bags 2 parking stickers A fun 101 Things to Do guide	4 lakes coasters 2 parking stickers A fun 101 Things to Do guide

Click the links below to join today

Play and Explore

Take the Lead

Love Your Lakes

Latest

Water, Willow and Christmas Wreath Making - Wimbleball Lake

Fancy doing something a bit different before Christmas? Come and join us for one of our small group sessions at Wimbleball Lake on Sunday 20 December.
Water, Willow and Christmas Wreath Making - Burrator Reservoir

Fancy doing something a bit different before Christmas? Come and join us for one of our small group sessions at Burrator Reservoir on Saturday 19 December.
Water, Willow and Christmas Wreath Making - Roadford Lake

Fancy doing something a bit different before Christmas? Come and join us for one of our small group sessions at Roadford Lake on Saturday 12 December.
Work starts on a new ‘water-wise garden’ at Roadford Lake

The creation of a new ‘water-wise garden’ has commenced at Roadford Lake as part of South West Water’s campaign to highlight how customers can save money through water efficiency.

Our Campaigns

We believe engaging with the natural environment enables people to grow

Vote for your favourite photo competition entry

It's time to have your say!
Join the team

Current vacancies
Roadford Lake, Devon

Roadford Lake sits within the stunning surroundings of the Wolf Valley, close to Launceston on the Cornwall border. One of the biggest and busiest inland waters in the South West, the lake is surrounded by a variety of natural habitats, including Culm Grasslands, woodlands, old pastures and orchards.
Lopwell Dam, Devon

Lopwell Dam is a beautiful spot at any time of the year; the colours and views on display are simply breathtaking. Near Plymouth, the Local Nature Reserve is home to a varied range of wildlife, both in and out of the water. Delve into Lopwell’s long history (all the way back to the 13th century!), and learn about how this peaceful haven was once a busy river quay that served Plymouth and London, with a mineshaft used for mining lead and silver.
Fernworthy, Devon

Near the idyllic village of Chagford, Fernworthy Reservoir is an archaeological jewel in the heart of Dartmoor National Park. Walk through meadows, woodland and moorland, and take in the fascinating cultural heritage of ancient stone cairns, Bronze Age hut circles and submerged clapper bridges, while enjoying beautiful lakeside views.
Burrator, Devon

The jewel of Dartmoor, Burrator encompasses dramatic tors, open moorland, historic settlements and a Nature Reserve. Located on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, Burrator Reservoir offers a unique day out for families, nature enthusiasts, historians and Dartmoor lovers alike.
Coronavirus update 2/12/2020

Under the current coronavirus restrictions we are pleased to confirm that our lakes will continue to be open for outdoor recreation such as walking, cycling and fishing. We urge visitors to stay local, adhere to their home tier restrictions and be prepared when visiting a lake. Please read our information here to make sure you are well informed prior to visiting.
What we do

We are dedicated to the protection of the natural environment found at our lakes and are passionate about people from all walks of life being able to benefit from the wonderful countryside around our lakes. From walking and cycling to angling and watersports, we offer fantastic opportunities for great days out and regular visits for health and well-being, discovering and exploring at lakes across the south west of England.
Avon Dam, Devon

Avon Dam Reservoir is situated in beautiful open moorland on South Dartmoor – a wonderful location for some picturesque walks. To get to the reservoir, head to Shipley Bridge, where you will find car parking and toilet facilities with disabled access, provided by Dartmoor National Park.
Our impact

We believe engaging with the natural environment enables people to grow. Our purpose is to protect special places for people and wildlife. Our mission is more people having great experiences.