EPDM Lined Wildlife Lake – Fairwater Project

Fairwater Ltd delivered an EPDM Lined Wildlife Lake at The Wildwood Estate in the Surrey Hills. The project transformed a 7,000m² irrigation reservoir into a sustainable wildlife habitat. The original reservoir was up to five metres deep and had steep sides with no shallow margins. As a result, it was unsuitable for wildlife in this rare heathland location. By designing an EPDM Lined Wildlife Lake, Fairwater met ecological and planning requirements while creating an attractive and functional feature for the development.

Working closely with ecologists and site engineers, Fairwater reshaped the lake using surplus on-site soil. This created gentler slopes and broad, shallow edges. Consequently, the new design provides habitats for plants, amphibians, birds, and insects. In addition, these changes turned a purely functional reservoir into a thriving ecological feature.

The EPDM liner offers a durable, flexible, and long-lasting waterproof solution. It allows the lake to retain water safely while supporting natural habitat establishment. Moreover, this sustainable approach reduced material waste and minimized environmental impact.

The lake is now filling naturally through rainfall. Over time, the EPDM Lined Wildlife Lake will establish a self-sustaining ecosystem. Ultimately, it will become a central ecological feature at The Wildwood Estate, showing how careful planning and sustainable design can transform a conventional reservoir into a thriving wildlife habitat.