A prime fishing spot in Woodford Green will become a natural habitat teeming with wildlife this year as it acts upon an academic study.

Redbridge Fishing Lakes, near Roding North Lane, has been the subject of a University of East London report into how to improve its biodiversity.

The nine-and-a-half acre site already houses two coarse and match fishing lakes and scrub and grassland areas.

It is now set to introduce a host of environmental measures including a kingfisher nest, bat boxes, a “bee bank” and “bug hotel” and a nature path off the back of the university’s findings.

Owner Gordon Bullock, 59, said: “Just over three years ago this was a derelict playing field and we’ve spent the last three-and-a-half years transforming it into a wildlife park.

“I was happy the university were prepared to do the study for me. I didn’t want to make changes and then find out I’ve gone down the wrong road.”

Work is close to completion on the kingfisher habitat in the hope of attracting a nesting pair.

In a secluded settling pool next to the lakes, Mr Bullock and colleagues have built a steel box with soil replicating a nest and a floating feeding platform.

Mr Bullock is currently completing work on a hide for viewing the kingfishers.

Further recommendations made following their visit in October, include placing bat boxes on trees and buildings around the lakes.

Feeding stations could also attract new species of birds such as starlings and bullfinches to the site.

Mr Bullock plans to build a sand bank which bees will nest in, use wood pallets and bricks to attract insects and start work on a wildflower meadow.

For more information, email info@redbridgelakes.co.uk.