Before construction there were arable fields going back hundreds of years but careful design has ensured effectively an exchange of one kind of countryside for another, with the landscaping providing a surround in sympathy with the Lake.
Its woodland shelter belts with intervening grassland and vistas, including one of Windsor Castle through the 'Millennium Lime Avenue', and wildflower meadows provide a home for increasing numbers of other flora and fauna (see Green 'Cred' below).
Over 30,000 trees have been planted in the Park and Arboretum. Most trees are native species but there are some 'exotics'. Old Etonians and many other people have donated trees, some to mark special occasions and some in commemoration of family members and friends. A database is held of all Dorney Lake's trees including those presented.
Fascinating features include a sculpture and a stone circle with armillary sphere and sundial. The circle and sphere were presented to Dorney Lake in 2005 by Eton Aggregates, the consortium of gravel-extracting companies involved in construction over the previous 10 years. Eton scholars devised a Latin inscription for the sphere - 'Homines contra homines hic inter harenam acquamque saxumque sed omnes contra tempus contendunt' ('Men against men here amongst the sand and water and rock but all struggle against time').
Click here to download the arboretum map (Note: file size is 5Mb, .pdf format)
Click here to download the arboretun Key Plan (Note: file size is 0.5Mb, .pdf format)
Before construction there were arable fields going back hundreds of years but careful design has ensured effectively an exchange of one kind of countryside for another, with the landscaping providing a surround in sympathy with the Lake.
Its woodland shelter belts with intervening grassland and vistas, including one of Windsor Castle through the 'Millennium Lime Avenue', and wildflower meadows provide a home for increasing numbers of other flora and fauna (see Green 'Cred' below). 
Fascinating features include a sculpture and a stone circle with armillary sphere and sundial. The circle and sphere were presented to Dorney Lake in 2005 by Eton Aggregates, the consortium of gravel-extracting companies involved in construction over the previous 10 years. Eton scholars devised a Latin inscription for the sphere - 'Homines contra homines hic inter harenam acquamque saxumque sed omnes contra tempus contendunt' ('Men against men here amongst the sand and water and rock but all struggle against time').