Sir David Attenborough Opens Woodberry Wetlands

Local Resident and London Wildlife Trust site Manager David Mooney shares a joke with Sir David during the walk round the reservoir

Woodberry Wetlands, managed by London Wildlife Trust, is an 11-hectare site between Harringay and Stoke Newington.

Today Sir David Attenborough joined London Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers on the press day mark the opening of the reservoir to the public for the first time in 200 years.

Attenborough commented "There's an awful lot of people, in the cities and elsewhere, who live in a world of concrete and asphalt and brick and glass. So all this a huge, huge benefit"

Sir David said access to the natural world was a "birthright" and should not be regarded as a luxury.

He added: "We are part of it and if we lose contact with the natural world, you lose contact with a great source of pleasure and delight which is your birthright."

Sir David learning about the Wetlands from the Trust's David Mooney

The new wetlands reserve is based in and around the early 19th Century east reservoir. Both it and the New River which feeds it are still owned by Thames Water and are a part of London's daily water supply.

The new 'boardwalk' leading from the entrance gate to the new cafe

London Wildlife Trust said the site had more than 13,000sq metres of reed bed and 550sq metres of hedgerow, wildflower meadows and fruit trees to attract birds, bees, butterflies and other insects.

View across the Wetlands

The press pack and a million midges (mercifully of the non-biting kind) descend on Sir David

Some Trust volunteers take a few moments away from the hubub

Sir David shares a joke with a local resident

Sir David taking a few moments out

Press pack, volunteers and locals chat over a very fine buffet

The Wetlands is open to the public both today and tomorrow. See our event listing for details.