Angling at The Wildlife Reserve.  Click on  images to enlarge

The Anglers.

I not could exclude the Chard Angling Club from these pages. Their contribution to the Reservoir is unmatched.

The carp that inhabit the waters must be 30lbs at least around the bird hide where they feed on bread from the local walkers. They are sitting ducks for anglers.

However the erosion to the wooded areas where the  anglers continually tread and push the heavily laded wheeled vehicles everyday is having a detrimental effect on the fragile ecology of this wonderful small reserve.

The angling is open to all comers 24/7 and  365 days a year and it costs only £10.00 per 24 hours.

But there no time for the water side areas to regenerate and recover  from continual traffic imposed on it. Almost no vegetation exists where the tents are pitched daily.

Litter is regularity left by anglers. Discarded batteries, line, butane gas containers, plastic bottles, broken fishing tackle, barbeque containers, tent pegs, beer cans and hundreds of spent tea bags. The list is endless and includes almost anything you can eat or drink.

The discarded and lost fishing line is fouling the birds.

These items not only affect the wildlife it also fouls the swims area for the next arrivals.

Yet when you speak to the anglers they all portray themselves as committed wild life enthusiasts. Not me guv.

more about this on page a_year_at_a_wildlife_reserve.htm