The site is one of the largest urban wetland nature reserves in Europe and is particularly important for wildlife due to its position within the Lee Valley.

Visitors can freely access the site's natural, industrial and social heritage in one of the capital's most densely populated urban areas.

The nature reserve is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on account of the reservoirs' national and international importance to breeding, migratory and wintering waterbirds.

With London's fast-growing populating, the High and Low Maynard Reservoirs were completed in 1870 for additional water storage whilst in 1887, a Davy compound engine (a new and powerful type of steam engine used widely for pumping at waterworks and mines during the late Victorian era) was installed at the Coppermill for use in the fast-expanding reservoirs system.

Named after one of the East London Water Company’s directors, it was a major engineering feat for its day—requiring a huge labour force of 1,250 men.

[4] In 1951, the Ferry Boat Inn and Coppermill were designated Grade II Listed Buildings for their architectural features and unique place in local history.

Constructed in 1894, the Marine Engine House, previously named the Ferry Lane Pumping Station, was built during the development of the reservoir complex.

The Marine Engine House is constructed throughout in brick and architecturally is in the simplified Italianate style much used for Victorian industrial buildings, with semi-circular heads to all of the principal door and window openings.

Roofs are generally finished in plain clay tiles with extensive use of patent glazed roof-lights and ridge lights in the single storey sections.

[5] The Coppermill building is Grade II Listed and has undergone a number of alterations over the centuries, including the addition of an Italianate tower in 1864.

[9] Production of copper ceased in 1857, and in 1859 the mill was purchased by the East London Waterworks Company and modified to drive a water pump to assist in the building of the reservoirs.

1 reservoir are the location of the famous heronry, at which the numbers of breeding pairs reach a level placing it in the country's top five sites.

[12] Great crested grebe, pochard, tufted duck, coot, yellow wagtail, sedge warbler and reed warbler are all regular breeding visitors,[1] whilst other regular visitors to the reservoirs include green sandpiper, common sandpiper, dunlin, redshank and lapwing, while less common species include ringed plover, little ringed plover, curlew, ruff, common snipe, Eurasian oystercatcher, wood sandpiper, whimbrel, European golden plover and little stint.

[citation needed] The ten reservoirs, grounds and the Coppermill Stream form an extensive enclave of natural habitats, albeit within a man made and securely fenced infrastructure.