Friends of Clennon Lakes

18/08/2026

Some better photos of the flying Migrant Hawker Dragonfly..

17/08/2026

With hot sunny weather perhaps coming to an end, we hope you made the most of probably the best dragonfly show at Clennon Lakes ever! Photographers have been out trying to get that shot of these incredible flying predators. Most of the time it's a blurred image as it whizzes by, but every now and then one hovers briefly while looking over an area for prey. If you are quick you'll get the shot otherwise it's gone! Some of the best photographs we've seen are from Bill Coulson shown here. The rare dragonflies - the Lesser Emperor and the Red-veined Darters were an obvious 'focus' of attention.
There's a comparison shot included of the much brighter and commoner Emperor Dragonfly - Bill took this shot over at Bovey heath.
Bill Coulson
British Dragonfly Society
Devon Wildlife Trust
Paignton Zoo

05/08/2026

We are often asked - 'Where have all the male ducks gone around the lakes?'. Well they are still there but at this time of year as they moult and regrow their feathers, it means they often can't fly for a few weeks. So to make themselves look less obvious and to hide away from predators they go into something called eclipse plumage, effectively going into a more camouflaged, female like, plumage, while they regrow particularly their wing feathers. If you look a little harder the male Mallards retain their greeny, yellow bills but otherwise look very drab. The black and white drake Tufted Ducks lose the strong contrasty plumage and white flanks. The Gadwall drakes are very tricky to tell from the females - the one in the pictures below is just starting to show the grey tertial feathers (above the tail) and some of the lovely vermiculation (fine black and white barred feathers) on the flanks (side). By the end of September or into October the males will all look like proper drakes again.
Paignton Zoo
Devon Wildlife Trust
Devon Birds
Goodrington, Roselands & Hookhills Community Partnership
Spotted Paignton

04/08/2026

Another good Friends of Clennon Lakes volunteer work party on Sunday 2nd August with 17 volunteers (=51 hours of work done).
Tasks included:
1. Weir clearing.
2. Litter picking
3. Removal of several dead and broken willow branches for the lakes sides
4. Path edge cutting and clearing
5. And a good effort at scythe cutting the meadow. A big thankyou to Finch and Anna of Firebug Torbay and especially Colin Close for his instruction on the preparation, maintenance and use of the scythes for an efficient mowing action.

We hope by not using big machinery from SWISCo to cut the meadow, as in previous years, this more gentle approach will have less impact on the ground and might benefit the fauna and flora on the meadow. We will keep a close eye on the results next spring.

During the break time there was time for a drink, chat, update on what's going on around the lakes, and tucking into the home made peanut butter cookies.

SWISCo
Goodrington, Roselands & Hookhills Community Partnership
Paignton Zoo
Torbay Community Builders
Torbay in Bloom
Torbay Together
Torbay Council
Hoburne Devon Bay
Devon Wildlife Trust
Torquay Museum Society
Spotted Paignton

03/08/2026

28/07/2026

Sunday 2nd August Work Party at Clennon Lakes

The Britain in Bloom judging for Paignton included the lakes - the judge seemed to be impressed and had a very knowledge of the wildlife we are looking after. Thanks to those that helped out on the morning both before and during the judging- greeting and giving the site a quick spruce-up before the judging.

Jobs for Sunday's work party:
The weirs blocked with floating pond w**d and we need a bigger team clearing the cut willows from lake 3.
Volunteer Finch of Firebug Torbay will be helping and more training if required scything more of the meadow.

Meet 08.45am by the container at the bottom of the lakes close to the Velopark fence. We will have a break around 10.30am bring a bring, snack and have a chat. Finish at 12 noon.

Work to be done:
1. Clear the weirs (3 people)
2. Scythe the meadow (6-8 people)
3. Continue to cut back willows on lake 3 (7-8 people)
4. cutting back some branches blocking views of the lakes

New volunteers always welcome - there will be a task for all abilities!

Paignton Community Partnership
Goodrington, Roselands & Hookhills Community Partnership
Torbay in Bloom
Torbay Community Builders
Paignton Zoo
SWISCo
Spotted Paignton
Torbay Council
John Fellows
Cllr Hayley Tranter for Goodrington with Roselands Ward
Wild Planet Trust
Hoburne Devon Bay

22/07/2026

Come along and learn more about your local community.
Goodrington, Roselands & Hookhills Community Partnership The regular Community Partnership meeting will be an out door meeting at the wildflower meadow at Clennon on Thursday ( tomorrow) at 6pm. Bring a chair. Finch will be talking about Firebug Torbay and enabling those attending to have a go at scything. Anyone is welcome - to these meetings.
Torbay Community Builders
Torbay Together
Torbay in Bloom
Torquay Museum Society
Paignton Community News
Spotted Paignton
SWISCo
Cantina
John Fellows
Gill Knight, Community Builder for Paignton South

17/07/2026

Work Party 5th July
In preparation for the Britain in Bloom judging for Paignton a fantastic showing of 24 volunteers (equals an impressive 72 'man hours') got stuck into general maintenance and tidying up together with Finch from Firebug Torbay demonstrating scything and our volunteers having a go.

Tasks completed included:
1. Scything the paths on the meadow
2. Clearing the wears
3. Cutting back and raking off the paths
4. Cutting back and moving more willow in lake 3
5. Creating more channels for excess water to leave the paths
6. Litter picking

Judging for Britain in bloom is taking place on 22nd July.

For anyone else in the area Finch of Firebug Torbay will be giving a short presentation about Firebug Torbay and a demonstration of Scything during the Goodrington, Roselands & Hookhills Community Partnership meeting starting at 6pm on 23rd July meeting on the meadow area at the top end of the Clennon Valley playing fields (bring a lightweight chair). All welcome. The meeting will include a stroll around the lakes later too.

As always a big thank to all those that come along and help at the Friends of Clennon Lakes work parties.

SWISCo
Paignton Zoo
Goodrington, Roselands & Hookhills Community Partnership
Torbay in Bloom
Torquay Museum Society
Torbay Council
Paignton Community News
Spotted Paignton
Hoburne Devon Bay
Steve Darling MP
John Fellows
Cantina
Gill Knight, Community Builder for Paignton South
Torbay Community Builders
Paignton Community Partnership

14/07/2026

Clennon Lakes have won the Green Flag again for 2026/27 !! Thanks to the tireless work of the supporters and especially volunteers that for the last 11 years have stepped up and got stuck-in (literally sometimes!) managing the lakes and meadow for wildlife and people that enjoy ~Torbay's finest wetland conservation area.

2026 UK Green Flag Award - winners announced!
https://www.greenflagaward.org/news/2026-award-winners-announcement/
Green spaces across the UK are celebrating achieving the international quality standard for parks! A fantastic 2,391 parks and green spaces have reached the high standards required to receive a coveted Green Flag Award as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the scheme.

Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said:
“Today’s Green Flag Award winners show what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces that are safe, welcoming and maintained to the highest standards.”

To mark this milestone 30th anniversary year and generate vital media awareness around the true value of these spaces, Green Flag Award has also released new research highlighting a widening 'Green Divide' in Britain, already getting picked up on BBC Breakfast this morning.

We are using this national conversation to help everyone recognise just how essential these green assets are to our collective wellbeing and quality of life.

Goodrington, Roselands & Hookhills Community Partnership
SWISCo
Torquay Museum Society
Paignton Community Partnership
Torbay Council
Cantina
Spotted Paignton
Torbay in Bloom
Torbay Community Builders
Paignton Community News
Paignton Zoo
John Fellows
Cllr Hayley Tranter for Goodrington with Roselands Ward
Hoburne Devon Bay
Firebug Torbay

2,391 local parks and green spaces to achieve prestigious international quality standard.