Volunteers have been working tirelessly to transform a little-known beauty spot in North Oxford. Matt Oliver reports

For years the Wolvercote Lakes languished behind fencing, overgrown and inaccessible.

But that is a far-cry from today, with Oxford Preservation Trust preparing to celebrate the first anniversary of opening the nature site to the public.

Thanks to the hard work of volunteers since 2010 to transform the eight-acre site, it is now open 24-hours a day, every day of the year, and has become a thriving natural habitat.

And on Sunday, from 11am to 3pm, a family-friendly open day will be held, featuring activities such as nature trails and pond-dipping.

The lakes – once known as “the Pleasure Lakes” and “the Gullet” – were bequeathed to the trust by Viv Kirk, whose family owned them for two generations.

Mr Kirk, who lived in Walton Well Road, had kept his collection of historic traction engines there, as well as a fishing hut.

But he left the land to Oxford Preservation Trust and after his death in 2010 the trust set about making the area into a nature reserve.

Trust director Debbie Dance said: “Viv Kirk was a wonderful Oxford character and he wanted to make sure the lakes were well looked-after.

“He loved it here and used to fish.

“Before his death he talked to us about them, but we only found out he had given them to the trust when he passed away.

“We have landscaped the area around the front lake, so you can walk around it, but the back lake will remain undisturbed.

“It is about finding that balance of creating nice spaces, but also keeping things natural.”

The lakes host a variety of different species, including tufted ducks, coots, kingfishers, swans, grass snakes and – it is hoped – eventually even otters.

It has taken several years and £80,000 to transform the habitat, but now the lakes are accessible to anyone via a gate in Godstow Road.

But volunteers are still needed regularly, Mrs Dance said, with monthly work parties held to make sure it stays up to scratch.

She added: “It is something that requires constant upkeep, but it is now safe forever.

“We get a lot of interest, including from local schools, and it has really sparked people’s imaginations.

“People didn’t really have any idea the lakes were here, but we’ve now tried to make it so you can see them from the street.

“Because they allow you to get quite close to the railway, but from a safe position, people also bring their little children to come and watch the trains go past, which is lovely.

“We have made something beautiful in a place that was not really very beautiful and I think Viv would be very pleased by that.”

Already, the lakes have also been shortlisted for a prestigious award.

Last month the Canal & River Trust revealed the trust’s project was in the running for its 2015 Living Waterways Awards.

Judges have already visited the site and winners are to be announced in October.

Now Mrs Dance said the trust would turn its attention to other sites among its 800 acres of land.

“The next project we are starting to think about now is the Daryush Memorial Garden, in Boars Hill”, she said.

The garden and its neighbouring house were home to former physician and Poet Laureate Robert Bridges, who lived from 1844 to 1930, and his daughter Elizabeth Daryush, who bequeathed it to the trust in 1977.

“We rent out the house and keep the garden open,” said Mrs Dance.

“But we want to bring it up to the same standard as Wolvercote Lakes and Heyford Meadow.

“We have lots of land like that, so it’s about letting more people know that they can come in.”