Welcome to Henlow Bridge Lakes
Located on the boundary between Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire just outside of Henlow, we cater for camping, caravans, fishing, walks and conservation.
We are open all year round and access is easy as we are just off the A507, which can be accessed from junction 10 of the A1(M).
Please take a look around our website to find out more about the facilities that we offer.
An Introduction To The Area
Henlow Bridge Lakes riverside, walks and leisure caravan facilities are located in Bedfordshire close to the North Hertfordshire border. They are situated 600 metres east of Henlow Village on the A507 Shefford to Stotfold bypass which joins the A1 (M) at Junction 10.
Located close to the Henlow/Arlesey railway bridge and station the facilities can easily be reached by footpaths, Highway routes or the train station which has disabled access.
The facilities are part of an overall 58 acre landholding comprising of a 25 acre Aggregates Depot, 21 acres of pastureland and 12 acres of riverside frontage and lakes owned by a local Henlow family who support the public having access to the countryside.
In 2002 Henlow Bridge Lakes were created during the rebuilding of the railway bridge, when part of the material was used in the reconstruction. As part of the planning proposals to create the lakes and enhance the area, a previous access agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries (now DEFRA) was extended to allow public footpaths and a riverside walk in perpetuity.
The footpaths created provide a circular route to link with existing footpaths which run across the front of the owners Aggregates Depot and from the Lodge House on Arlesey Road (A507) past Henlow Grange to the village. The network of footpaths form part of the Kingfisher Way from Baldock to Tempsford.
Since 1996 when Henlow Lakes & Riverside Ltd acquired the 60 acre landholding, the family company has...
- Provided 1.4 miles (2370m) of site and stock fencing.
- Erected and fitted 18 field and kissing gates.
- Planted and maintained circa 20,000 hedgerow plants and trees.
- Cleared out 0.66 mile (1070m) of ditches and provided two wildlife ponds and 5 ditch crossings.
- Cultivated and provided circa 19 acres of wild and grazing grass using 266 kilos of seed.
- Provided public access footpaths to the lakes and riverside of circa one mile (1630m).
- Cleared, and planted 0.35 mile (550m) of public footpath to the front and side of the Aggregate site.
- Maintain 1.35 miles of public footpaths and riverside walks on an ongoing basis.
- In 2002 excavated and landscaped circa 65,645m3 of top soil, overburden and hoggin to create fishing amenity
areas of 19,937m2 (4.9 acres) to Jordan’s Lake and 6312m2 (1.55 acres) to Vincent’s Lake.
- Stocked the fishing lakes with circa 1600 fish up to 9lb in weight of native river species: carp, tench, bream,
rudd, roach and gudgeon.
- Set 300m of reed to lake edges and native water lily plants.
- Provided 66 designated fishing areas to include 'easy access' disabled facilities to the lakes.
- Cleaned and cleared 1060m of riverbanks, removing circa 2 tonnes of rubbish from river, including fallen and
overhanging trees.
- Exposed and rebuilt part of old weir and provided a disabled fishing amenity areas.
- Provided areas of reinforcing to riverbank, affected by livestock water drinking.
- Provided conservation islands, wildlife habitat, reed beds in and around the lakes in the order of 2 acres.
- Worked with ACORN conservation group of Arlesey to promote and encourage wildlife and country walks.
- Submitted and obtained planning permissions from Bedfordshire County Council and Mid Bedfordshire
District Council to provide the facilities and maintain the landholding.
- Worked with DEFRA, local Authority Conservation Advisors, to promote good management of the area with
regard to wildlife, planting and continuing improvement of the landholding.
- Supplied and fitted 8 seats for walkers and users of the facilities.
- Provided dog and rubbish bins
