Fishery Management Report

Hurston Lane Work Party 6th April

well a few hardy souls braved the weather and the roads and got up to Storrington for the work party. I have to say that the conditions on the roads this morning were atrocious. I had to drive up the A284 from Arundel and there were cars going all over the place, I counted 8 which were either in the ditch, slewed across the road or who were stuck trying to go up the hill. Anyway a journey that would normally take 20 mins took me 45 mins but I finally made it. As I was pulling into the car park my phone went. It was Vince who together with Keith had managed to get all the materials together and build our new weed rake. Vince was stuck in Arundel and was not going anywhere – so no weed raking today but it will at least be available for next week. Anyway I pulled into the car park and there was Nelson and a few others just loading up with the strimmers and chain saws and setting off towards the match lake. We had planned to remove the logs that got washed into the carp lake but although we had a couple of pairs of chest waders available it was decided that discretion was the better part of valour and we will save that for another day. Likewise clearing the Island on the match lake will have to wait. So we decided to trim back some of the trees round the match lake, have a strim round and burn as much of the cutting as possible.

Well the trimming and strimming started off quite well but getting a fire going in the conditions proved quite a challenge and it was only on the third attempt with the help of Alex’s fire lighters that the fire eventually took hold. Alex had also brought a couple of portable BBQ’s and it was going to be my task to feed the work party with sausages and fried onions. So back to the car park I went and set up my brolley over the BBQ to give it a chance of getting going as the snow was still coming down heavily. I got some very strange looks from a few people who were out walking along the lane. They must have thought that I was absolutely barmy standing out in the snow with a barbecue going with an umbrella over it – Oh well it will be something for them to tell their friends! Anyway I managed to get some stuff cooked and I think it went down well when the others returned from their labours.

Well that was today’s work party and below are a few pictures of Hurston Lane Fishery in the snow for those of you who didn’t make it. We have another work party next week – I don’t think that I will be able to make it from the start but will try to get along later and perhaps cook a few more sausages!
No one expected to see the scenes below when the Work Party dates were organised for Hurston Lane

Copyright Petworth and Bognor Angling Club,  West Sussex

Copyright Petworth and Bognor Angling Club,  West Sussex

Copyright Petworth and Bognor Angling Club,  West Sussex

Copyright Petworth and Bognor Angling Club,  West Sussex

Copyright Petworth and Bognor Angling Club,  West Sussex