Biodiversity Spotlight: Reviving Tykes Water Lake
At Home Farm Glamping, we’re all about helping people reconnect with each other in nature, so protecting and preserving our habitats is at the heart of everything we do. Over recent years, we’ve made exciting changes across the farm to support wildlife conservation, biodiversity and habitat restoration - the transformation is already beginning to show.
From planting 3000 trees and new hedgerows to restoring ghost ponds and rewilding grasslands, Home Farm is evolving into a thriving haven for nature. One of the most exciting projects, however, is the restoration of Tykes Water, our serene historic lake which glampers have the pleasure of walking around.
A New Chapter for Tykes Water
Tykes Water, our beautiful lake originally created in the 19th century, has long been a defining feature of the landscape. Until recently it was used as a carp fishery. While this supported recreational fishing, it had an unintended impact on the lake’s ecosystem.
Carp are known to disturb the sediment at the bottom of lakes, which can lead to murky, turbid water. This reduces light penetration and ultimately prevents aquatic plants from growing. Without these plants, the lake struggles to support a rich diversity of wildlife, from insects to amphibians and birds.
Improving Biodiversity Through Lake Restoration
As part of our commitment to nature conservation and sustainable land management, we have taken steps to restore the natural balance of Tykes Water.
Carp, along with species such as tench and bream, have been carefully removed using nets and electrofishing. These fish have been safely relocated to another local fishery. Our Wildlife Gardener, Rob, was delighted to see last week that the early signs of recovery are already visible, with water clarity beginning to improve as sediments settle.
Clearer water allows sunlight to reach the lakebed, encouraging the growth of aquatic plants—an essential foundation for a healthy freshwater ecosystem.
What Happens Next?
Restoring a lake is a gradual process and we are still in the very early stages. The next steps may include removing excess organic matter from the bottom of the lake built up over years from fish waste and leftover bait, which can otherwise lead to nutrient overload and algae blooms.
By improving water quality and encouraging plant growth, we hope to create the right conditions for wildlife to return naturally.
Rewilding Home Farm
The restoration of Tykes Water is just one part of a wider rewilding effort across Home Farm. Our work includes:
Planting new woodland, scrub, and hedgerows
Creating and restoring pond habitats
Re-establishing wildflower-rich grasslands
Together, these changes are helping to support pollinators, birds, mammals, and aquatic species, building a more resilient and diverse landscape.
This is something we invite the public and groups to support us with. Families can get involved in our annual, free Family Tree Planting day (details of which we share on our newsletter). We also invite corporate groups to join us for Rewild & Reconnect Day, more information on those can be found here.
Looking Ahead
Rebuilding an ecosystem takes time, but the early signs are incredibly encouraging. We’re excited to watch Tykes Water come back to life and to see how wildlife responds over the coming months and years.
We’ll be sharing regular updates on the progress of the lake and the wider conservation work at Home Farm—so keep an eye on our blog to follow the journey.