The Environment Agency has invested £8,000 of rod licence money in new facilities for disabled anglers on the bottom lake at Cannop Ponds, near Lydney in the Forest of Dean.
As well as installing two new spacious and sturdy angling platforms, we improved more than 80 metres of path and 10 metres of boardwalk. The work was carried out by contractors working for the Environment Agency, with co-operation and advice from the land managers, the Forestry Commission.
The path, which is suitable for use by less able-bodied anglers, leads directly from the car-park and allows access to the platforms over what was a jumble of mud and broken stonework.
The platforms reach to the edge of a dense stand of horsetail plants, enabling anglers to cast into deep water. They complement two other platforms which we installed some years ago on the opposite side of the lake. These have stood the test of time well and despite frequent use have not yet required any repair work.
Yorkley Angling Club, which is based at Cannop Ponds, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Day tickets are available to non-members and can be purchased from the tackle shop in Lydney and from the bailiff on the bank.
Environment Agency Fisheries Technical Officer, Alan Bewick, says “This is yet another example of how we use rod licence money to improve the future of angling. Any member of the public can buy a day ticket and take advantage of these new facilities. We’re sure that Yorkley Angling Club and all its anglers will enjoy and make good use of the new platforms and we wish them well in their future activities.”
Any angler aged 12 years or over, fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish or eels in England, Wales or the Border Esk in Scotland must have an Environment Agency rod licence. As well as breaking the law, people who fish without a licence are cheating their fellow anglers by reducing the amount of money we have available to carry out work such as this to benefit the angling community.
