As well as being a nature reserve, Fen Drayton Lakes is classified as a reservoir on the River Great Ouse floodplain and has a role in holding water during floods to protect the nearby villages and relieve some of the pressure further downstream.
As river levels rise, drainage ditches that run through the reserve bringing water from the surrounding area to the river can’t empty out so begin to overspill into the lakes, sometimes also flowing backwards away from the river during particularly large flood events. A series of ditches and large culverts going under the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway link many of the lakes to their neighbours so as the western lakes fill from the river, they start to flow out and fill the next lakes heading eastwards (downstream). In smaller floods some lakes remain unaffected by rising levels, but other times the whole reserve can go under.
We are currently experiencing our largest flood since 2021. All of the lakes are now connected with water flowing across the majority of our footpaths, as well as our entry road. With water covering the entire floodplain system, large flocks of wintering ducks and waders are present in the area and can be seen flying around as they move from flooded field to flooded field.
If visiting, please do not attempt to drive through any floodwater and only walk on the bank-top footpaths that remain out of the water. Flood water can have a strong current as it is funnelled through small spaces and it can also hide logs and other trip hazards under the surface.
View of the entry road looking north