Charlotte's Lake

Project Overview

Harelands, just outside Bruton in Somerset, is a striking piece of land with wide, open views across to Stourhead and Alfred’s Tower. It has a real sense of calm, shaped by the wildlife that lives there - hares, deer and birdlife in abundance.

From the outset, the ambition was to create Charlotte’s Lake as the centrepiece of the project: a place for fly fishing, with lodges and cabins, and in time an amphitheatre on the water with the hope to host Ballet Under the Stars for up to 500 people a night.

However, the entire vision hinged on one critical factor - finding a viable water source. Without it, Charlotte’s Lake simply wouldn’t have been possible.

The Challenge: Low-Yielding Borehole and Limited Water Supply

Matthew B Downing Water Drilling Services Ltd were brought in to drill the borehole, with Stephen leading the work. An initial borehole was drilled to around 60 metres, but it only produced approximately 400 litres per hour - nowhere near enough to support the lake. At that point, the project was genuinely at risk of stalling.

The Approach: Expert Site Assessment and Water Source Identification

Instead of accepting that result, Stephen continued to assess the land, using dowsing to identify alternative locations. He became convinced there was a strong source near an ancient holly bush in the lower corner of the field - something he noted also aligned with old farming lore about holly marking water.

The Solution: Successful Borehole Drilling at 45 Metres

Acting on that instinct, a second borehole was drilled at the new location, and at just 18 metres, struck a strong, reliable supply. We continued down to 45 metres to drill through the water source to create a sump on the borehole. The new water yield was 2000 litres per hour.

The Outcome: Reliable Water Supply for Lake Development

• Secured a sustainable borehole water source
• Enabled the successful development of Charlotte’s Lake
• Supported future tourism and leisure plans in Somerset
• Prevented costly delays and project uncertainty

The project moved from risk to reality through expert borehole drilling and site knowledge.