imported>ArbieP: /* References */ added Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Staffordshire source= List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Staffordshire

2025-01-09T20:13:40Z

References: added Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Staffordshire source= List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Staffordshire

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{{Short description| Natural lake in Staffordshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Aqualate Mere
| image = Aqualate mere newport.JPG
| caption = (2004)
| alt = A lake surrounded by grass
| location = [[Staffordshire]], [[England]]
| coords = {{coord|52.7812|-2.3392|region:GB-STS_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| type = [[Mere (lake)|mere]]
|pushpin_map=Staffordshire
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| basin_countries = United Kingdom
| length =
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| cities = [[Newport, Shropshire]]
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'''Aqualate Mere''', in [[Staffordshire]], is the largest natural [[Mere (lake)|lake]] in the [[English Midlands]] and is managed as a [[national nature reserves in England|national nature reserve]] (NNR) by [[Natural England]].<ref name="NatEngNE405">{{cite web |url=http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5083675 |title=Aqualate Mere National Nature Reserve (NE405) |date=1 March 2013 |publisher=Natural England |accessdate=3 January 2016}}</ref>

The Mere lies within the borough of [[Stafford (borough)|Stafford]] in [[Staffordshire]], [[England]], some {{convert| 3|km}} east<ref name="NatEngNE405"/> of the [[market town]] of [[Newport, Shropshire|Newport]], [[Shropshire]]. It is within the grounds of [[Aqualate Hall]], a [[English country house|country house]], with a landscaped [[Medieval deer park|deer park]].

Although large in extent (1.5 km long and 0.5 km wide), the Mere is remarkably shallow and is nowhere much more than one metre (3.3 ft) deep. Aqualate Mere is an example of an [[esker]] system (rare in the Midlands) formed by glacial meltwaters during the late [[Last glacial period|Devensian glaciation]].<ref>[http://www.esci.keele.ac.uk/srigs/Sites/SSSI/Aqualate/ Staffordshire Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites Group - Aqualate Mere] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721213439/http://www.esci.keele.ac.uk/srigs/Sites/SSSI/Aqualate/ |date=July 21, 2011 }}</ref> The depression in which the Mere lies, thought to be a [[Kettle (landform)|kettle hole]],<ref>{{cite conference |url=http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/4713/ |title=An integrated lake-catchment approach to reconstruct land use changes and pollution history at Aqualate Mere, Central England, UK |accessdate=2016-01-03}}</ref> and the surrounding higher ground which comprises [[Glacier|glacial]] [[sand]] and [[gravel]] deposits were all formed at the same time.

It is fed by streams coming from the north, south and east (including [[Back Brook, English Midlands|Back Brook]]), and its outflow to the west forms the [[River Meese]] which joins the [[River Tern]], a tributary of the [[River Severn]].<ref>John Shipley The Little Book of Shropshire- 2015 0750963425 "The site chosen was a sandstone ridge to the west of Aqualate Mere, a natural lake, the largest in the Midlands, formed by melting glaciers; the River Meese flows from here to the River Tern. The lake and its abundant fisheries are mentioned .."</ref>

The Mere supports diverse [[fish]] and [[bird]] populations, including large numbers of wintering and breeding [[wildfowl]] and breeding [[Eurasian curlew]] and [[common snipe]]. Together with the surrounding land, it is also important for its [[plant|botanical]] and [[invertebrate]] communities. Mammals found on the NNR include [[European polecat|polecat]], [[European water vole|water vole]] and [[Micromys|harvest mouse]], together with bats such as [[pipistrelle bat|pipistrelle]], [[Daubenton's bat|Daubenton's]],<ref name="NatEngNE405"/> [[Natterer's bat|Natterer's]], [[Brandt's bat|Brandt's]] and [[whiskered bat|whiskered]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2016}}

Its name came from [[Anglo-Saxon language|Anglo-Saxon]] ''Āc-gelād'', meaning "oak grove",{{citation needed|date=February 2022}} influenced by Latin "aqua" = water, "lata" = wide.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Plot |first1=Robert |title=The Natural History of Staffordshire |date=1686 |publisher=The Theatre |location=Oxford}}</ref>

==Wildlife==
The NNR is notified in part for its plants and vegetation,<ref name=NE>{{cite web |last1=Natural England |title=Notification of Aqualate Mere SSSI |url=https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1003807.pdf}}</ref> particularly its extensive [[wet meadow]]s which are derived from ancient peat bogs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lockton |first1=Alex |title=Flora of Aqualate Mere |url=https://archive.org/details/flora-of-aqualate-mere}}</ref> Species of interest include [[Calamagrostis canescens|purple small-reed]], [[Cirsium dissectum|meadow thistle]], tubular water-dropwort and [[Hypericum elodes|marsh St. John's-wort]]. It contains a sizeable [[heronry]] and many species of birds, and is considered notable for beetles, flies and moths.<ref name="NE" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

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[[Category:Lakes of Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Kettle lakes in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Staffordshire]]

{{Staffordshire-geo-stub}}

Aqualate Mere - Revision history

imported>ArbieP: /* References */ added Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Staffordshire source= List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Staffordshire