Visiting the lake

At this stage, access to the lake is only available through activities booked with Cambridge Sports Lake Trust (CSLT) or Urban&Civic. Lake events are held during the spring and summer, providing opportunities for the local community to enjoy paddle boarding and swimming.

Details of lake sessions need to be booked in advance. Find out more at www.miltoncountrypark.org/waterbeach-lake

The lake is an appealing and inviting environment, but it does contain risk. We ask residents and visitors to take care around water, practicing common sense around the lake and other waterbodies; ensuring children are supervised at all times and understand the importance of playing safely near water, for the safety of themselves and the wider community.

Warning signs should be adhered to, and it is the responsibility of residents and visitors to follow the safety information provided. Lifebuoy rings with user instructions are located around the lake.

The design of all ponds and waterways at Waterbeach have taken into consideration best practice guidance regarding health and safety. This includes:

• planting designed to be ‘grab-friendly’, so if anyone goes into the water, the inclined sides, shelving below the water line and planting should enable them to guide themselves out.
•  features including earth mounding and islands within larger areas of water.
• woodland planting and other design features ensure sufficient space and separation from play areas.
• fencing around all banks steeper than 1:3 and a maximum water depth of 1.5m.
• wildflower, grassland, and aquatic planting situated around the ponds to dissuade access.
• ponds being in areas with good levels of natural surveillance.

Remember that ponds are best enjoyed from the steps and ledges we have put in place so that you can enjoy them and the wildlife safely — and dangle your feet without needing to paddle in. In addition, please remember:

• lots of wildlife lives in the ponds and brooks – it isn’t cleaned and filtered for human use and could make you sick.
•  pond water can be very cold – even in the summer.
• ponds and waterways can be deep in the middle, never assume you can see the depths of water and never jump in.

If you have any queries or notice any irregularities with the ponds or waterways at Waterbeach, please email hello@waterbeachwb.co.uk.

The vision for Waterbeach will establish five key habitat areas alongside a network of new green spaces and corridors that connect these special places. In addition to the lake and runway grasslands, other priority areas for ecology include the former golf course, western bund and watercourse, and northern park. This creates a mosaic of habitats to support a wide range of wildlife.

Alongside the natural landscape features, the urban areas of the development will include benefits for bats, hedgehogs, birds and other key species, and ensure new residents are never far from nature.

For out more about Waterbeach's ecology.

No, there is not a beach at Waterbeach, but you will be able to soak up the atmosphere on the large grassy lakeside area while you make the most of the café, watersports and walking and cycling routes.

We encourage you to visit Waterbeach on bike, by foot or public transport where possible. If you need to drive parking is available at the transport hub on Gillyflower Lane.

Enter Waterbeach via the roundabout on off the A10, and parking is available at the transport hub on the left hand side.

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The lake is then is a short walk, cycle, scoot or wheel straight down Kendale Road.

Please note there is no direct car access to the lake, parking is only available at the transport hub at the gateway entrance to the site. Please only park in the designated car park and do not park on the road.