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banks have been re-profiled and the resulting soil deposited into the lake to make more shallows and larger reedbeds. The process is known as 'river braiding' and creates a diversity of river features with still pools, shallow riffles and gravel islands which helps to restore natural river processes and better wildlife habitat.
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The
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust have undertaken a number of projects to restore the site as a wildlife haven. These works include excavation of scrapes for wading birds and the creation of shallows and reedbeds on the two main lakes providing cover and nesting areas for breeding birds. Parts of the
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The location of the lakes, at the meeting point of three rivers makes it an ideal stop off point for migrating birds. Different birds use the reserve at different times of the year. In winter ducks such as
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The reserve is 24.2 hectares (60 acres) in extent, centred on former sand and gravel workings. The reserve comprises two lakes split by an elevated main railway line carrying the
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On the north eastern shore of the western lake is a Noon Column. Erected in 2006 as part of the
National Forest Company's LANDshapes project, the Noon Column was created by
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to be restored and retained as a nature reserve. The lakes now lie at the southern edge of the
National Forest and serve as a gateway into the forest.
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and is sculpted from
English oak. The sun will shine through the vertical slot for 10–15 minutes at
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View westward across the main, western lake at
Croxall, which is about 11 hectares in area. The
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on midsummer and midwinter's days, creating a line of light in the shadow cast by the column.
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and development works were funded by
Staffordshire Environmental Fund, the
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breed in the reserve. Other birds that may be on the reserve include the
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Croxall lakes viewed from highest point of
Arboretum, across the
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The site owes its existence to its geology, which comprises
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lies below the embankment on the far side of the lake.
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225:. The lakes lie directly to the east of the
16:Quarry lake in Staffordshire, United Kingdom
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378:due to its populations of otters, native
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406:in 2000 with financial assistance from
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229:and adjacent to the confluence of the
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512:Tourist attractions in Staffordshire
492:Staffordshire Wildlife Trust website
376:Site of Special Scientific Interest
213:in the south east of the county of
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487:The National Forest: Croxall Lakes
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517:Nature reserves in Staffordshire
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161:located between the villages of
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33:View north of the western lake
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148:East: 2.7 ha (6.7 acres)
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394:The reserve lies within the
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441:National Memorial Arboretum
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146:West: 11 ha (27 acres)
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111:52.727461°N 1.720452°W
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116:52.727461; -1.720452
277:Cross Country Route
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412:Environment Agency
408:Severn Trent Water
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254:Lafarge Aggregates
317:northern shoveler
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288:'true' noon
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133:Quarry lake
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89:Coordinates
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284:David Nash
246:Quaternary
231:River Tame
99:52°43′39″N
439:from the
237:with the
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102:1°43′14″W
329:redshank
294:Wildlife
264:Features
219:Midlands
201:Location
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341:skylark
321:lapwing
301:mallard
223:England
217:in the
211:Croxall
207:Alrewas
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163:Croxall
353:Otters
309:wigeon
416:DEFRA
195:Mease
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157:is a
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