Source: Environment Agency:
Batchworth Lake is situated in Rickmansworth Aquadrome, a local nature reserve forming part of the Colne Valley Regional Park and managed by the Three Rivers Council. The lake is popular amongst anglers who prize the area for its natural beauty and successful specimen carp water.
The lake has, however, been identified as having the potential to support a much larger variety of fish and attract a wider range of anglers such as junior anglers and their families.
Working in partnership, the Environment Agency, Three Rivers Council and Uxbridge Rovers Angling Club are funding and implementing a range of modifications to the planting in and around the lake.
The Environment Agency is investing £10k of rod licence income in the project, and this sum is being matched by Three Rivers Council.
Rob Pearson, a fisheries officer for the Environment Agency, said:
“Batchworth Lake is a great fishing facility for the community but it will be even better thanks to our habitat enhancement work. Our project will mean that smaller fish will have a home in the lake which will attract our younger and pleasure anglers.”
Edward Edwards, from the Uxbridge Rovers Angling Club who lease the fishing rights on Batchworth Lake said:
“We are delighted with the project and the benefits it will bring to not only fish but to the wider angling community. The club is keen to introduce the Environment Agency’s ideas to other fishing lakes we own which face similar issues.”
Currently there is a significant lack of suitable habitat for silver fish species such as roach, rudd, bream and perch in Batchworth Lake. These fish species are particularly vulnerable to predators such as the cormorant. To help them prosper, the project team have planted floating islands to create refuge areas. These floating Islands are anchored in place and have a cage structure underneath the island to allow fish to pass into it, but not predators. The plant growth also produces dense root structures below the Island which are also valuable cover for juvenile and adult fish, and also provides a spawning ground for species such as roach.
Three Rivers’ cabinet member for leisure and community, Keith Williams, said:
“The Council wants to improve the habitat to encourage young fish by providing a safe refuge for them to hide away from predators. These young fish will in time provide fishing opportunities for younger and less experienced anglers, who may not yet feel confident enough to fish for the huge carp that exist in the lake currently.”
Planting on the edges of the lake with native plants such as iris have also been undertaken. These plantations will hopefully spread over larger areas to provide fish with year-round cover from predators.
