DDAPS NEW LAKE
"BENNETT'S LAKE"
Just over 16 months ago the committee began negotiations to secure an
18-acre lake set in a 36-acre site at Hildenbourgh in Kent. We can now
confirm that, from September 2010, DDAPS became the new owner of
Bennett’s Lake.
The lake was created after gravel was extracted from the site 20 years
ago. The water level fluctuates from summer to winter, with an average
summer depth of 12 – 13 foot, increasing to 16 – 17 foot in winter.
As far as we are aware, the lake has never been stocked. It does however, hold a vast head of quality roach. Perch and pike are also present, although we understand that poachers have reduced the numbers of pike in recent years. There are rumours of carp and tench, but this remains to be confirmed.
Much of the last 16 months has been spent attending meetings and
obtaining planning permission for a change of use at the site, as the lake
has not officially been fished before.
Conditions of the planning permission are, that work is carried out before
our members can fish.
Work required includes construction of:
- A track across several fields
- The installation of cattle grids and gates
- The construction of a parking area
- Fencing to the footpath
- Stock fencing around the rest of our property
- The construction of mosaic habitats, including scrapes and small
ponds to create a wetland area in the field on the opposite side of the
footpath.
We hope that organised work parties will carry out most of the work
required. Budgets have been put in place to cover the cost of the work and future stocking over the next two years.
We have already appointed an honorary bailiff who lives near the lake.
Both he and the farmer who owns the land that the new track will run
across have been asked to remove anyone found on our property. This
also includes DDAPS members, as the site will have to remain out of bounds until all work is complete and the lake is officially opened.
We anticipate that the work and any subsequent stocking will be
completed within 18 months and that the lake will be open to our
members from the beginning of the 2012 season.
We believe that within a short time this acquisition will be on par
with both Sutton at Hone and Horton Kirby and will also go a long way
towards alleviating the pressure on both of these waters.
BENNETT'S LAKE GALLERY
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