Blagdon Lake :

Blagdon Lake is over 100 years old. There are a number of annual and special events, a selection of which can be found below:

The 2009 season for the Blagdon Beam Engine and Visitor centre will start on Sunday May 3rd and run every Sunday thereafter with the final Sunday being August 30th.

You can investigate intriguing displays in the visitor centre. See how the Victorians constructed the lake over a hundred years ago, watch the century old beam engine in motion, its 20 ton flywheel spinning hypnotically and compare that with the latest touch screen demonstrations in the Today’s Water room.

Outside, stroll over the bridge to Discovery Wood for the nature trail quiz and see what you can detect. Look for tracks of the shy roe deer, see where kestrels nest and spot the difference between nesting boxes for owls and bats. The wood is home to many birds and animals, including rabbits and squirrels, badgers and mice. There are lots of native English trees in the wood too; oak, ash, elm, hazel and wild cherry. What are the piles of logs for? Not burning!

Go to the Blagdon Centre section on the Bristol Water website to find out more about the centre. For more details call 0117 953 6470 or visit www.bristolwater.co.uk/leisure

100th Birthday party

On Saturday August 17th 2004, there was a 100th birthday party open day for the beam engines and Blagdon Pumping Station. Bristol Water provided free entry, along with the usual attractions of bouncy castles and an opportunty to wander around the pumping station grounds.

This used to take place over the August Bank holiday weekend. The event mixed non-stop action throughout the weekend with displays and demonstrations all with a countryside theme. Stalls, craft shops and refreshments. An enjoyable day out for all the family. Organised by the Blagdon Country Fayre Committee, this very popular event was held in the Blagdon locale.

It included traditional crafts like thatching and smithing, woodturning and fly-tying. There was food, entertainment and many stalls. Or you could have admired the produce of the flower show.