The Rickmansworth Aquadrome Project

Our Vision and Priorities

Our Vision and Priorities

• Enriching biodiversity and sustainability
• Managing flood risks naturally
• Improving site accessibility
• Creating a sensitive, engaging site identity with better signage

Over the coming years, Three Rivers District Council, alongside its delivery partner, Hertfordshire County Council’s Countryside Management Service, and with support from external funders, will undertake significant work to restore, improve and safeguard the site for the future.

In line with the 2022 – 2027 Rickmansworth Aquadrome Management Plan, our vision is:

'For the Aquadrome to be enhanced, nurtured, and protected. To achieve a balance so nature can flourish, and visitors can connect with and discover beautiful and unique habitats whilst understanding the importance of the environmental heritage of the site.'

Our priorities include:

• enriching biodiversity and sustainability
• understanding and managing the risks of flooding
• improving accessibility throughout the site
• creating an engaging, but sensitive site identity, with improved signage and interpretation

As a local community, we would love for you and your visitors to feel part of this special journey. Whether you're new to the nature reserve or a regular visitor, your involvement and support is and will be key.

The unique Aquadrome

We’re lucky to have a biodiverse nature reserve, which has helped shape our visitors’ cherished memories across the decades. As a much-loved local spot, people visit the Aquadrome to feel closer to each other and the natural world.  From early years through to adulthood and old age, generations of families have connected over their appreciation for this special place and have enjoyed the wide range of activities that it offers – from wildlife spotting to sailing its serene waters.

Beyond the happy memories of its visitors, our Aquadrome has received wider recognition for its thriving biodiversity and array of wildlife, with both Green Flag and Local Nature Reserve status. It also acts as a natural flood plain to protect nearby Rickmansworth from damaging overflow after heavy rainfall.

The Aquadrome has given us so much across the generations. By working together to enhance the Aquadrome’s waters, wetlands and walkways, we can restore and protect its legacy for now and the future.

Within these webpages, you'll find information about the different projects we are working on, such as the new pedestrian bridge and improvements to the Ebury play area, as well as commonly asked Q&As. This will be updated as projects are delivered.

The Woodland Pathway

Currently the woodland pathway is closed for Health and Safety reasons owing to seasonal flooding which is an important aspect of the site’s purpose and ecology. This year has seen more significant rainfall, causing structural damage to the pathway meaning that it is currently unsafe for public use. Short term repairs to the pathway would likely be washed away with any further significant rainfall and flooding, resulting in the re-closure of the path and a waste of limited council funds.

The council is focused on a long-term solution, and therefore has secured external funding to repair the woodland pathway as well as bring habitat improvements. The design of the upgraded pathway will be informed by a hydrological survey that is currently taking place. This is a complex survey and modelling exercise which will help to better understand the movement of water into, out of and across the Aquadrome. Any new pathways will be designed to work in harmony with seasonal flooding – and provide a better long-term solution for all. We expect the results of the hydrological study soon.

Many alternative pathways and walking routes remain open within the Aquadrome for everyone to use and enjoy. The council thanks visitors for their patience and understanding.

Ebury play area

Update - 11 November 2025
“Progress is being made in resolving the issue of Knot weed at the Ebury Play area. Investigation works will be taking place at the play area on 13 November. This forms  part of  the work required to enable the Council and others involved  to consider the best mobilisation plan to treat and safely remove invasive weeds here.

“Once this investigation is completed and the results analysed we hope to be able to share the full plan and dates for full remediation of Ebury Play Area...”

Update - 03 November 2025
“Investigation and weed control works are taking place around Aquadrome bridge on 4 November, which will help inform the final stages of the mobilisation plan to treat and safely remove invasive weeds at Ebury Play Area.

“Once the works are completed, the mobilisation plan for full remediation of Ebury Play Area will be shared in due course. Updates on Ebury Play Area can be found here.”

Ebury Play area - CLOSED
The anticipated reopening of the Ebury Play Area has been delayed following the unexpected discovery of Japanese knotweed.
We are currently working with specialists to resolve and manage the situation.
It is anticipated that the play area will remain closed until later this year.

Cllr Sarah Nelmes, Deputy Leader of Three Rivers District Council and Lead Member for General Public Services, said: “I share the immense disappointment and frustration of all those who would like to be using the Ebury Play Area. I am working with council officers and closely with our contractors to agree an effective remediation plan for the removal of the Japanese Knotweed. The remediation work that is needed at this location to remove the Japanese Knotweed is of significant complexity due to the fact that it is a playground. The remediation works need to provide confidence that they will prevent any recurrence that would result in further closures of the playground in future years. We will make sure that happens and I look forward to seeing the play area open and being used as it should as soon as possible. Once we have agreed  programme of works it will be published and shared.”

What is Japanese knotweed?

Japanese knotweed is an invasive non-native species to the UK; in this instance it means that the plant was transported from its native range (East Asia) to a new region (the UK) by humans and now has a negative impact on the environment. It was introduced as an ornamental plant in the 1850’s, it now poses a great issue as it disrupts the natural ecosystem and can cause significant damage.

As the majority of Japanese knotweed plants in the UK are female, this means that it rarely spreads by seed; and instead spreads through rhizomes. Rhizomes are special stems that grow underground and allow the plant to store nutrients and also reproduce by making clones of themselves. Therefore, from each small piece of rhizome a new plant can grow.

While it is not illegal to have Japanese knotweed present, it is illegal to allow it to spread. Therefore, the treatment of this species must be carefully considered and is controlled through legislation, including the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. It is also a controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which means it can only be transported by a registered waste carrier to suitably permitted or exempt sites.

For more information on Japanese knotweed and how to stop it from spreading please visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-japanese-knotweed-from-spreading

The pedestrian bridge was closed from 20 January 2025 until 23 May 2025 to allow for the installation of the new bridge. The Ebury play area will be closed from 20 January 2025 until autumn 2025 whilst the play area is being revived.

Following successful removal of the old bridge in February, the new bridge was installed over the weekend of Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 March.  Follow the link below to see the old bridge being removed:

https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/news/aquadrome-pedestrian-bridge-removed

A new bridge and an updated play area

From autumn 2024 to spring 2025, the council and its contractor installed a new bridge to make it easier and safer to cross the River Colne. It is 3 metres wide allowing both pedestrians and cyclists to pass with ease. The new bridge gives our visitors a much-improved entrance from Riverside Drive with a stunning view of Batchworth Lake. The area has been landscaped with seating and new planting for everyone to enjoy.

To help with our aspirations to enhance the visitors’ experience of the well-loved Rickmansworth Aquadrome, Three Rivers District Council has appointed AHR to project manage the replacement of the pedestrian bridge, landscape the surrounding area and the exciting refurbishment of Ebury Way play area.

AHR is working collaboratively with award-winning contractor Beaver Bridges, who developed and constructed the striking design of the new bridge and have installed the pedestrian bridge in the new year for generations to enjoy.

More information on AHR and its part in the Rickmansworth Aquadrome project can be found here.

The closure dates will be updated here, on social media and on the signs around the Aquadrome.

Ebury play area wwas shut during the entire construction phase as this area was used to support the creation of the new bridge. 

To keep a piece of the old bridge’s history, the Penny Farthing classic model bikes have been included in the new design, along with a fresh landscaped entrance.

Once the works to the bridge are complete, Ebury play area will be revived to reflect the Aquadrome's landscape.

Following a consultation in April and May 2024, incorporating your comments and feedback from pupils at St Mary’s Primary School, the new play area has been designed to encourage adventurous play in a natural environment. From exploring willow dens and tunnels, to traversing ropes and climbing the play towers, there will be plenty for our younger visitors to discover and enjoy.

We will be bringing you this new and revitalised play area soon.

Read the latest news stories below:

Aquadrome bridge and Ebury play area to be closed to facilitate tree and shrub works - 1 August 2024

New CGI of what the Aquadrome bridge will look like has been released - 5 September 2024

Rickmansworth Aquadrome bridge replacement underway - 8 January 2025

Rickmansworth Aquadrome pedestrian bridge to soon be removed - 11 February 2025

Help us name the new Rickmansworth Aquadrome pedestrian bridge - 19 February 2025

District bids farewell to old Aquadrome bridge - 20 February 2025

Final preparations being made for Aquadrome bridge installation - 6 March 2025

New Aquadrome bridge arrives to improve accessibility - 20 March 2025

WATCH: New Aquadrome pedestrian bridge installed - 28 March 2025

The Aquadrome's biodiversity

• A biodiverse nature reserve with Green Flag and Local Nature Reserve status
• A cherished community space for wildlife spotting, sailing, and recreation
• Acts  s a natural flood plain protecting Rickmansworth
  
  The River Colne flows through the Aquadrome, a chalk river, one of only 240 in the world. These rivers are rare, diverse ecosystems supporting a wealth of wildlife, they are vulnerable and need protection. The banks of the River Colne will undergo sensitive and selective tree works to balance light and shade, fostering marginal vegetation crucial for species such as water voles. Flow patterns will be diversified with strategically placed fallen trees and berms, enhancing in-channel habitats.

Another rare habitat that can be found nearer to Bury Lake is the wet woodland, this area is incredibly valuable to wildlife. The soils in these woodlands are wet for at least part of the year creating damp conditions, this combined with plenty of deadwood makes the area perfect for lots of specialist insects.

There is also a collection of conifer trees at the Aquadrome, known as a Pinetum. Conifers are ancient plants that would have once been the food of herbivorous dinosaurs. Pinetums are particularly important as approximately 1 in 3 species of conifers are currently facing extinction.

As part of the Rickmansworth Aquadrome project, over the coming months and years, the condition of the River Colne will be improved by reducing over-shaded areas and restoring the river channel to enhance the chalk river habitat.

Birdlife at Rickmansworth Aquadrome

This Local Nature Reserve hosts a range of bird species, from blackbirds to grey herons. Below are just some of the waterbirds you may spot when visiting Rickmansworth Aquadrome.

Mallard

The mallard is one of the most common ducks at the Aquadrome. The male has a dark green head, a yellow bill and a brown and grey body, whereas the female is speckled brown with an orange bill. Mallards are ‘dabbling’ ducks which means they feed on the surface or in shallow water. There are around 61,000 breeding pairs resident in the UK, with another 675,000 wintering birds, migrating from northern Europe.

Mute Swan

Their bill is orange with a black bulbous bump. A female is called a ‘pen,’ and the male is called a ‘cob’, there are not many differences between the two, except during breeding season the cobs black bump is larger. Their young are small and grey and are called cygnets. Despite their name, mute swans make loud honking noises and snorts and may hiss if you get too close. They are a long-standing native species, having been here since the medieval period.

Moorhen

Moorhens are black/brown in colour with a distinctive red and yellow beak. When looking closely, you can also see that their legs are green. Their bright beak is a display of how healthy they are, the brighter the beak, the healthier! The red is related to the level of bacterial infections and the yellow to the level of nutrients in their blood.

Coot

The coot is in the same family as moorhens but is distinctive by its white beak and white face shield. Its body is completely black and has skeletal-looking white webbed feet. It can often be seen diving under the water to gather vegetation to feed on. Their wings are round, making them weak fliers, instead, they run along the water, splashing to take off and land.

Tufted Duck

The tufted duck earns its name from the tuft of black feathers seen on the back of their heads. Their colouring is distinctive by having a black head, neck, chest and back and large white patches on their sides. Some of the UK’s tufted ducks stay here year-round, but their population increases in the winter due to migration from Iceland and Northern Europe.

Mandarin Duck

Mandarin ducks were introduced to the UK from China initially as pets, but following many escapes, they have established a population within various areas of the UK. The difference between the male and female is distinct, the brightly coloured male can be seen in the picture as a courting display to the more neutral coloured female.

Goldeneye

The goldeneye is a diving duck; the male is black and white with a black domed head that shimmers green. Females are mottled grey with a brown head, but both have the distinctive golden eye. It is an uncommon visitor and the male makes a loud whistle as part of their courtship display that can be heard up to one kilometer away.

Wigeon

A medium sized duck with a rounded head and small grey bill with a black tip. Males have a light brown head and neck, with a light-yellow forehead, pink breast, and grey mottled body. Females share the same beak but have a mottled brown body. They migrate down to the UK during the winter period from Iceland, Scandinavia, and Russia.

Great Crested Grebe

The great crested grebe is a distinctive resident in the lakes at the Aquadrome and can often be seen diving in the water to find food rather than flying. They have a decorative display of maroon and black feathers atop their head, with a white side profile and a deep red eye. Their body is brown/orange mottled, and their underneath is white. They were once hunted for their elaborate feathers, causing their UK population to decline rapidly. Now, their population is back on the rise and courting displays are extravagant and can be noticed by them rising out of the water and shaking heads with their partner.

Egyptian Goose

A non-native bird originally from Africa, with previous residencies along the River Nile. The Egyptian goose was introduced to the UK in the 17th century and has established populations in various areas. Its body is pale brown and grey, with white areas on their wings. Their eyes have distinctive deep brown circles around them.

Canada Goose

A species originating from North America, it can now be found across the UK. It was first introduced to join King James II’s waterfowl collection in St James’ Park in London in the 17thcentury. It is one of the UK’s largest geese, with a black head and neck, white underside of their head and a brown body. It can often be heard before it is seen, as they form large, noisy colonies.

Greylag Goose

The Greylag Goose is the largest goose native to the UK. They have a bright orange beak and legs, and a grey and light brown body, with a white underneath. They are very sociable and prefer to live in large flocks, when they communicate it is by a series of honks, cackles, and grunts, all having different meanings.

Grey Heron

The grey heron is the most common heron found at the Aquadrome. It is distinctive by its long neck, long legs, and large body. It has grey, black, and white featherings with a tuft of black feathers protruding from the back of its head. Despite their size, they can sometimes be tricky to spot, as they stand motionless on the waters edge for extended periods of time. They can also look like they shrink in size when they tuck their neck into their chest when resting. When they build their nests, they do so in colonies which are aptly known as ‘heronries.’

Little Egret

The little egret is in the heron family, small and white with black legs and bill with yellow feet and long white feathers displayed at the back of their head. Once a visitor from the Mediterranean, they now have established populations all over the UK. Their long white feathers were once a reason for their decline, favoured by the upper class to use in hats and clothing, they were once more valuable than gold!

Pochard

A principally winter visitor to the UK, the male pochard is distinctive by their bright maroon head, a black break and tail and a pale grey body. The female differs with a brown and grey body and pale cheeks. During summer and autumn, males grow new feathers during which time they closely resemble their female counterpart, this display is called the ‘eclipse’.

Cormorant

The Cormorant is large and black, with pale cheeks and hooked beak. Their feathers are not waterproof, so they can often be seen holding out their wings to dry after diving for fish.

Gulls

Did you know there is no such thing as a ‘seagull’? There are twelve species of gulls around the UK, six residents and six migratory, the gulls detailed below can be seen in Hertfordshire!

Herring

The most recognised gull by the public, often seen by the seaside, a large gull with a distinctive red mark next to their yellow beak. They can otherwise be identified by their light grey back, white underneath, black wing tips and pink legs.

Common

The common gull is not as common as the name suggests. It is similar in appearance to the herring gull but is smaller and lacks the red mark on their beak. It can be found in the shallower parts of the lakes, paddling to encourage invertebrate prey to the surface.

Great Black-Backed

The largest of the gull species, the great black-backed gull has a strong yellow beak, with a red mark towards the tip. They are dark grey on top, white underneath with a white head. Distinctively, they have black wings with white spots and pink legs. Due to their stature, they can be seen eating a variety of prey, from fish to rabbits.

Lesser Black-Backed

Similar in stature to the common gull, the lesser black-backed has a dark grey/black back and wings, a yellow bill, and yellow legs, distinguishing it from other species of gull. They have a red mark at the tip of their beak, as well as red colouring surrounding their eyes.

Black Headed

Seen in the spring and summer with a deep brown head, the black-headed gull is seen in large flocks diving into the water to catch fish. Pale grey wings, a white neck and stomach and black tail feathers also help distinguish this gull. During the autumn and winter months, this gull will change colouring and have a white head with a black spot behind its eyes.

The best opportunity to spot any of these birds are on Bury and Batchworth lakes, or along the River Colne. If you would like to feed the birds, please do so using seeds, peas or sweetcorn.

Ecological studies

In 2024, a range of ecological studies were undertaken at Rickmansworth Aquadrome to better understand the management of the species and habitats that are present. If you are interested in learning more, please follow the link below to view a summary of the surveys, as well as the surveys themselves.

Aquadrome biodiversity data

This student data hub provides access to a collection of ecological survey data collected at Rickmansworth Aquadrome throughout 2024.

Surveys included:

• Invertebrates
• eDNA vertebrates
• eDNA mammal
• Otter
• Water Vole
• Bats
• Habitat Condition

Three Rivers District Council is inviting students, researchers or educators who are working on a school project, dissertation or ecological research to use this data. It provides an invaluable resource for understanding local biodiversity, habitat trends and conservation management.

From detailed species inventories to habitat condition assessments, there is a range of data to use to understand Three River’s biodiversity. Explore the data, analyse the trends and contribute to the growing knowledge of the Aquadrome.

Please remember to reference ‘Three Rivers District Council, Leisure Services’ on your work.  This project has been funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, and it would be great to share with them how you have used the data.  Please share your work with us by sending it to  leisure@threerivers.gov.uk entitled Aquadrome Biodiversity Data usage.

Please follow the link below to view a comprehensive summary of the surveys, as well as PDFs of the surveys themselves.

Completed and upcoming projects

Generations of residents and visitors across the UK have enjoyed the Rickmansworth Aquadrome, but the time has come to restore and protect this precious nature reserve for now and the future.

The Aquadrome project seeks to enhance and protect the site which will be achieved through attracting external funding. 

Successful funding: 

• Three Rivers District Council has received initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Water, Wildlife and Wellbeing at Rickmansworth Aquadrome project. Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the project aims to enhance, nurture and protect the site.
• July 2025: Development funding of £736,515 has been awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help Three Rivers progress their plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant of £4m at a later date.  The success of the funding bid was also made possible through using funds awarded by HS2 Colne Valley Additional Mitigation Panel as match funding.
• January 2024: Three Rivers District Council received a £161,691 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in January 2024 to deliver a 10-month-long project at the Aquadrome, looking specifically at recovery and resilience. This project has enabled the council to make some essential first steps in understanding more about habitats, conditions and usage of the Aquadrome - through an engaging programme of community activities and the commissioning of various surveys.
  Almost a year on, we are celebrating the ‘Identify, Inform, Involve’ - Natural Heritage Networks project successes and sharing the baseline knowledge captured with the local community, who truly value this local nature reserve. 

To find out more, please read the Rickmansworth Aquadrome Digital Brochures, which include Natural Heritage Networks Evaluation Report and Aquadrome 2024 Activity Highlights.

• Funding of £100,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has allowed for the fishing swims to have a new lease of life. Each new unique swim will include fencing to improve the site safety and provide a quiet fishing space for the fisherman.  The fishing improvement project has worked in partnership with Countryside Management and the resident fishing association at the Aquadrome to ensure the swims meet the needs of everyone, including a wheelchair accessible swim.

• The  HS2 Colne Valley Additional Mitigation Plan (AMP) has supported the project and awarded £510,463 for biodiversity improvements
• CIL and UKSPF  has funded £1,286,092 for the costs to replace the pedestrian bridge and landscape the area.

Read the latest news stories:

Rickmansworth Aquadrome: a ‘mosaic’ of unique wildlife habitats - 17 January 2025

Celebrating a year at Rickmansworth Aquadrome - 10 January 2025

Picture this....

Storyboards have been designed to keep visitors up to date with the improvements at the Aquadrome. These boards are found through out the site where these developments are happening so that it explains what’s going on and why.

Please enjoy seeing them here too:

Read the latest news stories below:

Aquadrome bridge and Ebury play area to be closed to facilitate tree and shrub works - 1 August 2024

New CGI of what the Aquadrome bridge will look like has been released - 5 September 2024

Rickmansworth Aquadrome bridge replacement underway - 8 January 2025

Rickmansworth Aquadrome pedestrian bridge to soon be removed - 11 February 2025

Help us name the new Rickmansworth Aquadrome pedestrian bridge - 19 February 2025

District bids farewell to old Aquadrome bridge - 20 February 2025

Final preparations being made for Aquadrome bridge installation - 6 March 2025

New Aquadrome bridge arrives to improve accessibility - 20 March 2025

WATCH: New Aquadrome pedestrian bridge installed - 28 March 2025

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

When will Ebury play area be open?
The anticipated reopening of the Ebury Play Area has been delayed following the unexpected discovery of Japanese knotweed.
We are currently working with specialists to resolve and manage the situation.
It is anticipated that the play area will remain closed until later this year.

Why did we need a new bridge?
After decades of service, it is time to say goodbye to the old pedestrian bridge as its usable life has sadly come to an end. As you can see from the photos below, the bridge has degraded over the years, requiring significant funding and further disruption to keep it in a safe and working condition.
The old bridge that has been returned to the Beaver Bridges factory where it was dismantled and then transferred to a local facility in Telford / Shropshire, where it is now being broken down as part of the plan to recycle the materials. 

Why were trees removed near the old bridge?

Tree works were undertaken to facilitate the construction of the new bridge.  The trees were surveyed, and an arboricultural impact assessment was made in line with the British Standard (Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition and Construction to Construction - Recommendations" (BS 5837) (2012).  This information was assessed as part of the planning process, with conditions placed on the development to ensure that retained trees were protected from harm during construction.  Conditions were also applied, that require the planting of replacement trees, once the bridge works are complete. Trees were advised for removal to facilitate development or due to reasons of sound management, for example, some of the trees were experiencing Ash Dieback

How will the works be paid for?

The Rickmansworth Aquadrome Project is an ambitious one that requires external funding. Over the last 18 months, Three Rivers District Council has been successful in attracting funding to enable us to protect and enhance the beautiful green space.

Our thanks go to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the HS2 Colne Valley Regional Park Panel, the Community Infrastructure Levy and to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

If you would like to read the details of how each funding stream will be used at the Rickmansworth Aquadrome, please click on one of the following links:

The National Lottery Heritage Fund (Identify, Inform, Involve - Natural Heritage Networks at Rickmansworth Aquadrome)

HS2 Colne Valley Regional Park Panel

Community Infrastructure Levy

We continue to seek more external funding so that the Management Plan can be fully implemented and we can ensure that the Aquadrome remains a wonderful place to visit and that its habitats flourish.

Why does the Aquadrome flood?

The Aquadrome sits on a floodplain. This flat area next to the River Colne stores water, supports a diversity of wildlife, captures carbon and improves water quality. Flood plains are important, especially as we all face the challenges of climate change.

The hydrological study (a study of how water enters, leaves and moves around the site) that is taking place will help us to better understand water movement across and through the Aquadrome and its role as a flood plain. This will ensure that the way the Aquadrome is managed is informed and conducted responsibly to support this essential function that protects the wider area of Rickmansworth Town.

On occasions when the Aquadrome flood plain is doing its job and protecting the local area from flooding, we sometimes have to close some of the paths. This keeps visitors safe until the water has receded and allows us to assess and repair any damage that it may have caused. Please respect the closures when they are in place.

Future plans

We continue to explore grant funding opportunities as they arise to support further work at the Aquadrome. Successful funding bids will be used to improve the accessibility of the Aquadrome, making the paths safer and enhancing the smaller bridges across the site. Signage and maps will be upgraded and complemented with new and interesting interpretation boards and upgraded park furniture which will connect you to the canal and onto the Colne Valley Regional Park so you can better enjoy the miles of green and blue space.

Around the lakes we plan to reduce those shaded areas that are negatively impacting the ecology of the lakeside and address the erosion that is threatening the banks and path networks. We are currently waiting on the results of a hydrology study that will inform the decisions around managing the flood plain. 

Fishing Swims
Work is now complete in replacing the fishing swims (the platforms used by those fishing at the lake) around Batchworth Lake.
Each new unique swim includes fencing to improve the site safety and provide a quiet fishing space for the fisherman.  The fishing improvement project has worked in partnership with Countryside Management Service and the resident fishing association at the Aquadrome to ensure the swims meet the needs of everyone, including a wheelchair accessible swim.

Making space for Nature
Some of the old fishing swims have been returned to nature. The fence line along these areas, is protecting the vegetation that establishes on the edge of the lakes, known as marginal vegetation.  This is important as it can reduce erosion by stabilising the soil, using its roots to lock the soil together. The vegetation assists with minimising erosion, and it also provides invaluable habitat to a variety of species, providing shelter and food – boosting the biodiversity of the lakes.

By giving these plants the best opportunity to establish, nature can protect the banks, preserving the lake for years to come.

You will notice that currently the lake banks are over-shaded.  While trees around the lake banks are beneficial for creating shady, cooler spots both for people and wildlife, the lakes remain over-shaded. This is creating a dark environment at the edges of the lakes where marginal vegetation cannot establish and thrive as photosynthesis is limited. As the Aquadrome project progresses, habitat management around the lake will take place to appropriately manage the trees so that light can reach the lake edges and shade can be maintained in other areas. Once this balance has been established, additional marginal planting will support this establishment.

At the heart of all the enchancements and improvements we are making to the Aquadrome will be nature and a positive visitor experience. We strive to find the right balance between the two so that they live in harmony and can both flourish.

Stay informed and support the Rickmansworth Aquadrome Project.

Community involvement and steering group

In March 2023, a steering group was established for the Aquadrome project. The group consists of main stakeholders with the goal to oversee and support the project. Members of the steering group use their experiences, skills and knowledge of specific topics to help make strategic decisions.

Agreement of vision and aims This Steering Group aims to bring key stakeholders together to develop plans for the project outlined in the Rickmansworth Aquadrome Management Plan (2022-27). It is in place to support and work collaboratively at a strategic level, for the greater good of the site and to ensure we have support throughout the community.

The Steering Group should be a critical friend of the project and help to support any required funding bids, to deliver the project outcomes. It meets approximately twice a year to discuss key milestones of the project and receives regular updates.

Meeting minutes:

A Steering Group meeting was held on 15 October. You can see the minutes of the meeting here:

Aquadrome Steering Group Meeting Minutes – 15 October 2025 (PDF)

Presentations:

Aquadrome Project Update – presentation (PDF, 7 MB) Community Engagement – presentation (PDF, 6.2 MB) RSK – presentation (PDF, 6.1 MB) RSK - record report (PDF, 2.4 MB)

Partner Updates:

Partner update – Colne Fishing (PDF) Partner update – Colne Valley Regional Park (PDF) Partner update – Sustainable Three Rivers (PDF)

Members include:

• Three Rivers District Council
• Countryside  Management Service
• Batchworth  Community Council
• Three  Rivers Museum
• Rickmansworth  and District Residents’ Association
• Colne Valley Regional Park
• Affinity Water
• Colne  Catchment Action Network
• Rickmansworth Waterways Trust
• Environment  Agency
• Colne  Valley Fisheries Consultative
• Canal River Trust
• Sustrans
• Sustainable  Three Rivers
• St Marys School
• Rickmansworth and District Resident’s Association
• Friends of Stockers Lake
• Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust

Visiting the Aquadrome

Information on visiting the Aquadrome can be found here.