Tickets are on sale for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see "beneath the surface" of a reservoir after it is fully drained.
Large volumes of rubbish are believed to have built up on the bed of Welsh Harp Reservoir - which offers a natural open space between Brent and Barnet.
The draining process began earlier this winter and is expected to last several more weeks, as part of efforts from the Canal and River Trust to improve “one of the capital’s most important urban wildlife spaces” after issues were identified during a 2021 inspection.
Along with the draining, a fish rescue is planned as well as the removal of rubbish from the reservoir bed by contractors and additional volunteer litter picks.
#WelshHarp Now the #BrentReservoir is temporarily being drained to facilitate maintenance works and dam repairs the original course of the #Silkstream is showing up! pic.twitter.com/t9E5VnXpjX
— Friends of the Silk Stream (@silkstreamers) December 17, 2023
Free tickets can be booked online to attend the ‘Brent Reservoir Open Day’, which advertises to offer visitors a chance to “find out what lies beneath the surface”.
It will be a rare chance to see the waters drained, as well as meet experts at the site and hear about the Welsh Harp Joint Vision – a recently published plan between the trust and Brent and Barnet councils to enhance biodiversity.
Tours will run every half an hour from 10am to 2.30pm to visit the sluice gates and see the drained reservoir-bed up-close.
Last week, the trust said it was £700 away from its £15,000 appeal to fund the project.
The reservoir works, which are supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, will include repairs to the chains and rods that operate the reservoir’s sluices and repainting of the Valve House Tower.
Ros Daniels, the Canal & River Trust’s director for London & South East, said: “Sadly, local wildlife is fighting a constant battle against plastic pollution and fly-tipping from external sources.
“Over the years our reservoir has filled with rubbish, threatening the health of water birds and all the wildlife that makes its home here.
"But now we have a unique opportunity, while the reservoir is drained for maintenance work, to clear up the reservoir for both nature and people.”
“However, the scale and ambition of the work we plan to carry out is far greater than the funds available to us as a charity, so we’ve launched a crowdfunding campaign to help support it.”
To book tickets to the event, visit: https://bit.ly/WelshHarpOpenDay
And to donate to the crowd funder, visit: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-us-with-the-welsh-harp-brent-clean-up?utm_source=p
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