BARHAM FISHING LAKES

INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM SIMON MARSH SEPTEMBER 2021

The reason for select tree removal is to promote other vegetation, we had water quality specialists view the lakes last year and they recommended we remove some trees that are close to the waters edge in order to promote marginal vegetation. Marginal vegetation such as reeds absorb all the nasties in the water column helping to promote good water quality which in turn helps all aquatic life to thrive, marginal vegetation also helps with bank erosion and provides an abundance of habitat space for many species, we have planted over 5000 marginal plants this year alone, these are mainly yellow flag iris which have a beautiful yellow flower in the springtime.

THE WORKS WHICH ARE PLANNED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR IS AS FOLLOWS;

• Tree planting along the river and around the back of Brook Pool.
• Trackway improvement works along the A14 side of the lakes.
• Movement of fence line down the very end of site nearest Claydon to help keep us secure the fishery during flooding. This will be moving further away from the river.
• Habitat improvement works along the river and general fishery maintenance.

We continue to work hard at the lakes to give this special place a sustainable future and to protect it from flood erosion that we see every year.

Further information can be found on the website www.barhamlakes.co.uk  this also has a contact us page for those that would like to get in contact and this is encouraged.

Information received from Simon Marsh February 2021;

Tree works 

The willow trees along the river gipping had long been overdue some maintenance works, they had become very tall and weak, this is required to promote a diverse range of wildlife and vegetation as well as safety for those on the footpath and to prevent flood water being held back, we have a riparian landowner obligation to do this.

The willow trees along the river had taken over the banks, large fallen branches were restricting water flow causing the river to back up during high water levels, water flow was being diverted causing the riverbank to erode, during high winds we had had a few large branches fall onto the footpath.   

The works were completed outside of nesting season and ecological surveys were completed prior to works commencing, the works took place over several months throughout 2020. 

The majority of the trees are on the industrial estate side, so we teamed up with them to get the works done. 

It will look a little unsightly at the moment and the recent floods haven’t helped but if the residents can give it a few months the riverbanks and trees will flourish again, no trees have been removed, only topped, they will now ‘bush out’ providing more habitat space compared to a tall willow tree.

This time of year, or early in the winter months is the correct time to do this. 

We have a program of planting new trees (not willows) along the banks in the spring, although the recent floods may well put this back a little as we have some repairs to undertake due to flood damage. 

We wanted to leave all branches on the riverbank to create ‘nature piles’ and to reinforce the banks by promoting ‘rooting’ but the Environment Agency wanted the banks clear so unfortunately we had to burn / chip the tree debris.

We have planted over 500 trees in two years at Barham Lakes. 

 Footpath 

The footpath along the river is passable all year round now, the investment in bank repairs have substantially helped this.

This is an ongoing challenge as its apparent if nature was to have its way the bank between the lakes and the river would ‘give way’ completely in places due to continuous flood damage, potentially losing the footpath and causing the river to dry up in sections. 

Both the river gipping and the Barham lakes are ‘man made’. 

The footpath is level and at least 4m wide now, ideal in this current world. 

I have the footpath cut back and litter picked on a regular basis. 

The footpath in the summer was closed to allow heavy machinery to operate, according to the rights of way map, the section I needed to work on was not a footpath, so I felt reluctant to apply for and have to pay for a permit, my plan was simply to inform people on the ground what was going on and offer an alternative as the scheme was no more than two weeks.

  Fencing

The fencing is in place to keep otters out! Otters are beautiful creatures but not compatible with a fishery, the angling trust have lobbied government for compensation for private fisheries after the wildlife trust began a program of releasing otters in 2005, without a thought for a sustainable food source for them.

They are big predators and require a substantial amount of food. This action has had a devastating impact on our country’s freshwater fish stocks and forced fishery owners to invest in predation defence such as otter fencing. 

Fish are not the only species to suffer at the hands of this apex predator, aquatic bird life, especially king fishers have also seen a rapid decline since the otter’s reintroduction into our water ways. 

Since the fence has been erected at Barham Lakes, we have seen a huge increase in aquatic bird life, especially kingfishers which can be seen from the footpath.

General Info

I share the same desire to make the venue a special place for all wildlife (apart from Otters) but the venue needed a substantial amount of work to make it a viable fishery and to save the river bank from eroding away after decades of minimal maintenance.  

The fishery memberships are kept at a low level at the moment due to our long-term goals around fish care etc, we have over 1000 people/anglers on waiting lists to join the lakes. 

If anyone is after further details, we have a website that details our intentions, I will look to keep this updated as we go along. 

In short, there is not a person that wants the Barham Lakes to be a beautiful place more than myself, I have so many fond memories as a child fishing these lakes and I have poured a lot of time and investment into making it a sustainable fishery for years to come, it is not a business, it does not make money, it is through the love of the place that I do what I do. 

People may have different opinions on what makes it beautiful but the fact a local person with a desire to give the place a new lease of life and save it from almost certain landfill at an incredible cost to them personally should be celebrated not condemned. 

I hope this has helped to clarify some points, I am aware of the Facebook posts and they do hurt me a lot, but I am being advised to stay off social media as for the most part some people are just looking for an argument. My time is better spent on the 150 local people that have employment through my business or the 100 people that have the pleasure of enjoying the lakes at the moment. 

If I can assist further in any information you require please do not hesitate to get in contact