|
Fishing
at Bourne Valley Park
The small
fishing lake at Bourne Valley Park is intended for local young
people (up to the age of about 16 yrs) as an introduction to
angling, an opportunity for them to learn & develop angling skills
alongside peers and mentors.
The fishery
will be managed by Poole's Leisure Services with help from
knowledgeable local residents. It's neither large nor
challenging enough for experienced, competitive anglers, and they
are not encouraged unless
 accompanied by or helping to coach inexperienced anglers.
Parent/carer and child
groups are very welcome to fish together.
The lake was
excavated in September 2006 and left to settle and
'mature' before it was stocked in October 2007. It is fed by
natural springs, groundwater and rainwater; only during very heavy
rainstorms will the Bourne Stream overflow into it. Water
levels are controlled by an outlet pipe.
Two
submerged islands created in the lake have become vegetated and will
provide a refuge for fish.
 About 500 young
rudd and carp are making a home of the lake, the largest of which
were between 8-10" when released. It is important for your future enjoyment
that these fish are given the chance to grow and to reproduce, so
please, whatever you catch - put it back!
Two wooden
fishing platforms have been provided, and earth 'ramps' created
from the upper level to the lower terrace to allow access by
wheelchair users.
The lake edges
slope gently to a depth in the centre of the lake of about
 1.5-2m.
Anyone entering it should easily be able to climb out again, but
please remember, any body of water presents an element of risk.
Act responsibly, be safe.
Access
There is no vehicle access to the
lake. It is accessible on foot from the end of Evering
Avenue, Turbary Close or via a passageway between homes at Monkton
Crescent. A longer walk through the field is from the end of
Berkeley Avenue. Postcode BH12.
 Respect the
fish, respect the environment
Users are urged
to learn how to
handle fish when returning them to the water - you can
contact Sarah if you'd like some
angling tips or coaching.
No barbed
hooks! They are unnecessarily harmful to the fish.
Please don't litter the area, pollute the water in any way or discard
fishing line or hooks at the site. Don't net the fish; the
only net you should be using is a landing net.
Fish stocks
have been purchased from a reputable source and required an
Environment Agency Section 30 Consent. They have been health
checked. Disease can be carried even by apparently healthy
fish and could wipe out the entire fishery, so please don't be
tempted to add any more to the lake!
No permit
required
The lake has
been created and stocked courtesy of the Environment Agency's Angling Participation Projects
funding, and the fishery is managed by local volunteers.
Fishing here is free of charge - no permit required.
Allan Frake
from the Environment Agency says: "The Agency is very keen to
promote angling as a healthy outdoor activity. We were
delighted to work with the partnership in providing angling
facilities particularly for youngsters and looks forward to having
coaching sessions so that they can not only learn how to catch and
handle fish properly but learn about the aquatic environment as
well'
 Do you need a
Rod Licence?
A rod licence
is required for any angler aged 12 yrs or older.
Rod
licences can be purchased online at the
Environment Agency's website, from The Telesales Service on
0870 1662 662, or from any Post Office. An annual
Junior Rod Licence (for 12-16 yr olds) will cost just £5.00 and is
valid from 1st April - 31st March of any year.
Failure
to provide a valid Environment Agency rod licence when asked could result in
prosecution (maximum fine £2,500).
 Questions,
comments, suggestions or problems?
Please contact
the Project Officer, Sarah Austin
Email:
s.austin@poole.gov.uk
Tel: 01202
261325 (direct line)
|
