College Lake in Bulbourne is located east of Marsworth and two miles north of Tring. The 65 hectare site is one of the flagship nature reserves of the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (www.bbowt.org.uk). Formerly it was a busy chalk quarry operated by Castle Cement to serve its nearby works in Pitstone. Over the past 20 years teams of volunteers have transformed it into a delightful place of tranquility. It has three walking trails, including the circular two-mile Wild Trail, a learning centre for school children, and a visitor centre and café. Opened in 2010, the centre's 'eco' roof is now thickly covered with grass.

College Lake has several bird hides overlooking the lakes, marshland and artificially-created islands that make it a renowned breeding location for water birds in Buckinghamshire. Lapwings are present throughout the year, while redshanks, common terns, great crested grebes and wigeon are among the many species that use the wetlands for feeding and roosting. Chalk grasslands and meadows feature a profusion of colourful wild flowers during spring and summer. They also support several rare butterfly species and shelter many small mammals, which in turn feed birds of prey, including kestrels and barn owls.

The photographs were taken in July 2016 unless otherwise stated.

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