The Farmer’s reservoir Masquerading as a Caribbean Lake

A Suffolk Surprise Hiding in Plain Sight

One of the unexpected perks of working from Ashtons’ office in Bury St Edmunds is that, unlike many workplaces surrounded by concrete and car parks, mine sits in the middle of farmland.

This means that lunch breaks often involve swapping legal documents for muddy footpaths, email notifications for birdsong, and occasionally remembering that sunlight exists.

Over the past few weeks, my lunchtime walks have become a small ritual. They offer a chance to clear my head, stretch my legs, and briefly escape the world of deadlines, negotiations, and the eternal mystery of why printers only malfunction when you’re in a hurry.

The Farmer’s Reservoir 

This week’s discovery was particularly memorable. The Farmer’s Reservoir

Hidden amongst the fields sits a large water reservoir used by the local farmer. Now, “water reservoir” is not a phrase that typically inspires excitement.

If someone invited you to spend your weekend visiting a reservoir, you’d probably suspect they are a bit odd or have too much time to waste. Yet this one stopped me in my tracks.

The water shimmered with an almost tropical turquoise colour, reflecting the sky above and the surrounding landscape. At first glance, it looked less like agricultural infrastructure and more like something you’d expect to find on the front cover of a luxury travel brochure.

Beauty With a Purpose

For a moment, I genuinely wondered whether I’d accidentally wandered into a holiday destination. Then I remembered I was still in rural Suffolk. Beauty with a Purpose. What struck me most wasn’t simply how beautiful it looked. It was the fact that the reservoir wasn’t built to be beautiful at all.

It exists for a practical purpose. It stores water. It supports crops. It helps keep the farm running efficiently. Its purpose is entirely functional. And yet, despite that, it possesses a beauty all of its own.

The same could be said of many things in life. A well-maintained farm field. A carefully drafted legal agreement. A well-run business. A piece of machinery that does exactly what it was designed to do. There is a certain elegance in functionality.

Sometimes the most beautiful things are not those created purely for appearance, but those created with purpose, skill, and care. 

Looking Up from the Screen

In the legal profession, much of our day is spent immersed in details. We analyse contracts, solve problems, manage risks, answer emails, attend meetings, and navigate deadlines.

It is rewarding work, but it can also be intensely focused.

Like many professionals, there are days when I look up from my computer and realise several hours have passed without noticing what is happening beyond the office walls.

The reservoir reminded me of something surprisingly simple.

Sometimes we need to pause. Not for hours. Not for a week-long retreat in the Himalayas. Just long enough to step outside, breathe some fresh air, and notice the world around us.

Because while we’re busy focusing on the next task, the next deadline, or the next challenge, there are often remarkable things hiding in plain sight.

The Farmer’s Reservoir Masquerading As a Caribbean Lake

I set out on a lunchtime walk expecting little more than a break from my desk. Instead, I found a reminder that beauty often appears where we least expect it. Not in grand landmarks or extraordinary destinations. But in ordinary places. A field. A footpath. A reservoir.

Perhaps the lesson is this: Look up from the screen occasionally. The next great view may be much closer than you think.

Even if it turns out to be a farmer’s water tank masquerading as a Caribbean lake!

With Gratitude, Caffeine & a Plot Twist

Joanne Reed

Head of Story Operations