Drone Rules for Bough Beech Reservoir

Landowner Policy & Site Rules

• Drone operations—including launching, landing, or operating on the ground—are strictly prohibited across the Bough Beech Reservoir site without explicit prior authorization.
• The reservoir and its immediate land banks are private property owned by SES Water and managed in partnership with the Kent Wildlife Trust. Both entities maintain a strict asset and environmental protection policy.
• Operating an unmanned aircraft from the ground here without formal written consent from the estate management team constitutes trespassing on private utility and conservation land.

Strategic Priority & Infrastructure

• Bough Beech Reservoir is a critical operational utility asset providing public drinking water supplies across parts of Kent and Surrey.
• The northern half of the reservoir and its surrounding margins are designated as a highly sensitive Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
• The area functions as a vital sanctuary for wintering wildfowl and breeding birds. Strict ground-use regulations are actively enforced to prevent acoustic and visual disturbance to protected avian species.

Operational Security Protocols

• Active land monitoring and perimeter patrols are carried out routinely across the visitor paths, bird hides, and utility boundaries by Kent Wildlife Trust wardens and water company staff.
• Any unauthorized drone operators identified operating from the ground will be approached, instructed to safely land their aircraft immediately, and requested to leave the estate property.
• Persistent non-compliance or hazardous flying over public rights of way or protected nature reserve boundaries will be reported to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and local wildlife law enforcement officers.

Permissions & Exceptions

• Ground permissions are entirely denied for all recreational, hobbyist, and casual drone flyers.
• Exceptions are strictly reserved for necessary utility asset inspections, authorized ecological survey work, or pre-approved professional media productions.
• Professional pilots requiring access must contact the managing Trust or SES Water directly well in advance to obtain a formal permit, submit a detailed flight plan, and provide a valid CAA operational authorization alongside comprehensive commercial public liability insurance.