About the reserve

Nestling in the heart of the Delamere Forest, Black Lake is haven for dragonflies and damselflies, from the impressive hawkers, to delicate darters and the chaser dragonflies. The lake is a small pool and associated bog lying in a natural depression in the land. An example of early ‘schwingmoor’ or floating bog development, over half of the pool is covered by a delicate sphagnum ‘raft’.  On the outer most regions of the raft, associated bog flora is dominant above the carpet of sphagnum, with scattered saplings and young trees found throughout.  These invasive trees become waterlogged as they increase in weight, when they eventually fall through the sphagnum raft and die.  This natural process helps prevent the bog from becoming woodland. Why not take a few moments to sit on the edge of the pool and look out for some of Black Lake’s aerial acrobats?  

PLEASE NOTE: As some of our reserves are in remote or rural locations, Sat Nav and postcodes may not be accurate or immediate proximity to the reserve entrance.