Be advised the area is still private property and as such you can be prosecuted for trespassing.
The
lower area is now almost totally covered by dense hawthorn and bramble; there
are a few tracks through it, mostly created by people on off road motorbikes.
Here you will be able to look up at the cliffs to the East of the lake and
of course out across the water. This area is a Bedfordshire Site of Special
Interest, this is due to the makeup of the land, a preworked quarry with what
should be open chalk land. The area is home to some very special plants; amongst
these is the rare Bee Orchid. The Bedfordshire County Botanist has decreed
that this area will not be allowed to be a 'beach' or similar due to its special
status. On his visit to the site however I did hear him say that there could
be a path down from the cliffs and paths could be carefully created through
the site so that people could admire the plants and wildlife.
At this time however it is the play area of a few 'bikers' who despite being aware of its status continue to race through it. There are a few extra dangers presented by the off road riding here however that must be thought about, not least the time it would take the Emergency Services to react to an accident in this out of the way place. Casualty extraction itself would present them with several real headaches and possibly require the casualty being airlifted!
The two other real dangers that I have come across are that the undergrowth is so thick that a person on foot may be able to hear the bikes, but not have a clue as to where they are coming from and suddenly be in the path of a speeding machine! At the end of the day however the council has had bike riding at the Blue Lagoon banned and riders now face the confiscation of their machines.
With the
exception of the above, the flat land to the East of Crane Hill has its own
individual beauty as it is. The dense undergrowth provides places for birds
to nest and mammals to hunt. It is quiet for most of the week during term
time and at weekends is often used by sun worshipers to enrich their tans.
Of course when you look at the actual make up of the area it is a natural
sun trap with the white chalky clay magnifying the rays and heat. Therefore
if you do visit here please take more then the usual precautions by using
a higher sun factor then your usual sun cream, especially on children. Take
plenty of fluids as there is nowhere to buy them here and wear a hat.
The old Australian adage of 'Slip, Slap, Slop,' should be used, SLIP on a
T shirt, SLAP on a hat and SLOP on some sun cream!
The water itself is well known to be exceptionally cold and has a blue hue due to the chemical composition of the land. The water is generally very cold requiring those who train here, divers and triathletes, wear wet/dry suits at all times. Obviously at the water's edge in summer it is warm, but as you progress out into the lake you can very suddenly be confronted by temperatures well below that which you would expect. This is probably because it is both a very deep lake (at least 40 feet) and it is fed by an underground spring. This sudden drop in temperature could cause serious problems for casual swimmers and one or two have experienced serious cramp, imagine if you will a person with a heart complaint suddenly plunged into freezing water!
There
is no safety equipment here or lifeguard so an accident in the water could
prove fatal. Added to the natural dangers always associated with swimming
in open water is the unnatural, broken glass from beer bottles has been found
in the shallows as has the odd motor bike and several sharp objects! Children
must be watched at all times. Remember please that this place is PRIVATE
PROPERTY, however, only the extremely naïve would assume that no
one will visit it when the weather is fine. If I sound negative I can only
say that I was the photojournalist present when the three children were recovered
from the depths of the water in 2001 and I have no wish for anyone else to
be injured or killed here. This place is truly beautiful but has many dangers,
the unaware can be lulled into a false sense of security brought on by the
fun that happens on any typical day out with friends, so please, if you visit,
be careful.
Above the flat area to the East of Crane Hill are cliffs formed when the site was first quarried. As with many open quarries the site was formed on different levels thus creating the cliff like appearance. The sides are very steep and there are at this time no safe routes to the top for any but the extremely sure footed or a mountain goat! The best way to see the Blue Lagoon from this side is to walk up past the boat club and pass under the fence (again made from railway line) following the scrub to your right. Some of the views from here across Bedfordshire are stunning. In the distance there is Sharpenhoe Clappers (the high group of trees visible way out to the West), the views across the water are beautiful from here. Again there are no safety features here and the almost vertical drop is probably enough to kill a person, so be aware. Along this side you are not close to the water and it is only possible to access the remainder of the Blue Lagoon tour by fighting through thick brambles, this may well change as the project takes off, until then please do not try as you may be hurt.
It is my intention to look at the Blue Lagoon in more detail over the next few months. I will be 'quartering' it, North, South, East and West. Then taking each part and examining the fauna and flora and where possible bring in the views of some local experts.
Watch this space……………………!
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