Caversham Lakes

{{Short description|Set of lakes in England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} {{Use British English|date=April 2017}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Caversham Lakes  | image = Caversham Lakes - geograph.org.uk - 65910.jpg | caption = View of Caversham Lakes  | location = Caversham, Berkshire | coordinates = {{coord|51.467|-0.936|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}} | type = Manmade lakes | rivers = River Thames | basin_countries = United Kingdom | agency = South Oxfordshire District Council | area = {{convert|32|ha}} | elevation = {{convert|61|m}}  | pushpin_map = United Kingdom Oxfordshire#United Kingdom | pushpin_label_position = top | mapframe = yes }}

[[File:Former gravel pit, Sonning - geograph.org.uk - 552076.jpg|thumb|View looking towards Reading]] thumb|Another lake view

'''Caversham Lakes''' is a set of lakes created through gravel extraction between the suburb of Caversham in Reading, Berkshire and the hamlet of Sonning Eye in Oxfordshire, just north of the River Thames and also refers to the sports buildings and facilities alongside those lakes.

== Overview == The lakes are formed from former gravel pits in the floodplain of the River Thames. The company Lafarge and formerly Redland plc have undertaken the gravel extraction though the Sonning Works. '''Caversham Lakes Trust''' Ltd has been set up to administer the lakes.<ref>[http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc0809/hc05/0542/0542.pdf Annual Report and Accounts, 2008–2009], Caversham Lakes Trust Limited, Company number 4290188 (A subsidiary company of The English Sports Council).</ref>

== Sport and leisure ==

=== Watersports === A wide range of activities from open water swimming, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing & aqua park was available from Caversham Lakes operating without planning permission until March 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |title=Caversham Lakes – Swimming, Watersports, Events |url=https://www.cavershamlakes.co.uk/ |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=Caversham Lakes |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-03-27 |title=Caversham Lakes water sports venue closes after planning row |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-68676754 |access-date=2024-03-28 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Rowing=== In 2006, the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake was added to the lakes in the park.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.sportengland.org/news/press_releases/rowing_gets_a_boost_as_the__13m_redgrave_pinsent_rowing_lake_officially_opens.htm | title=Rowing gets a boost as the £13m Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake officially opens | work=Sport England | date=29 April 2006 | access-date=3 August 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208021415/http://www.sportengland.org/news/press_releases/rowing_gets_a_boost_as_the__13m_redgrave_pinsent_rowing_lake_officially_opens.htm# | archive-date=8 February 2012 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> The GB Rowing team use this lake as a main base at which to train. Team GB also carry out land-based training at Bisham Abbey and occasionally close to Nottingham at Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre.

Sonning Regatta has been held every two years since 2000 – usually on the Thames adjoining, alternatively, in bad weather, on the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake.

===Motorboating=== The Thames and Kennet Marina in motorboating also uses an engineered lake (a marina dock) with access to the river Thames.

===Sailing=== The main venue in mid-Berkshire and south Oxfordshire for sailing is at Reading Sailing Club.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.readingsc.org.uk/~archive.htm |title=Some club history |publisher=Reading Sailing Club, United Kingdom |accessdate=5 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331184903/http://www.readingsc.org.uk/~archive.htm# |archive-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Waterskiing and Wakeboarding=== Isis Waterski Club is a committee-run members club which offers wakeboarding, wakesurfing and waterskiing.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.waterski-az.co.uk/isis_rel.htm | title=Isis Waterski Club | work=3 Round Inter Club Slalom | publisher=Waterski-AZ.co.uk | location=UK | year=2001 | accessdate=8 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402083150/http://www.waterski-az.co.uk/isis_rel.htm | archive-date=2 April 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isis.etondigital.com/ |title=ISIS |location=UK |accessdate=8 September 2011 |archive-date=31 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331185002/http://www.isis.etondigital.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Princess Margaret and her husband Lord Snowdon waterskied here during the 1960s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isis.etondigital.com/british-water-ski-championships-held-sonning-1964 |title=Focus on Sonning Water Skiing Club: Clearest Water in England? |work=British Water Skiing Championships Held at Sonning 1964 |publisher=ISIS |author=Ashford, Nick |year=1964 |accessdate=5 September 2011 |archive-date=31 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331184919/http://www.isis.etondigital.com/british-water-ski-championships-held-sonning-1964 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Angling=== Fishing is available at no charge on the public stretches of the Thames adjoining, having obtained the relevant annual government licences. It is also available on a paid basis at a few of the lakes which are accordingly replenished with a wide variety of fish.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sas-angling.org.uk/articles/sgp-opportunityknocks.html |title=Sonning Gravel Pit —Opportunity Knocks |publisher=Social and Specialist Angling, United Kingdom |accessdate=5 September 2011 |author=Philps, Duncan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924094345/http://www.sas-angling.org.uk/articles/sgp-opportunityknocks.html# |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

Category:Lakes of Oxfordshire Category:Sonning LCaversham Category:Artificial lakes of the United Kingdom