Temporary Closures & Updates | Canterbury And Distr

November 2025 - Birch Lake closed

Birch Lake shut until further notice due to low oxygen levels.
Work is continuing on Birch lake to alleviate the low oxygen levels. Oxygen pumps have been used & some trees have now been cleared to help the airflow over the lake.

November 2025 - Minster lakes

*Update* Due to the ongoing problems at Littlebourne the work to fill potholes at Minster has been postponed until further notice.

November 4th 2025 - Update on the removal of small common carp from Stonar
Another 1100lb of common carp, all under 12lb, have been removed from Stonar lake. This brings the total removed to 1,850lb (see October update below).
The fish have been sold, with the money going back into club funds to finance future fishery management projects.
Our thanks to all those that have assisted with this vital work.

November 8th-9th 2025 - Siltex application Fordwich
If you can help on either of these dates then please meet at the main car park at 08:30

October 2025 - Minster lakes
Due to the rain and increased traffic at Minster, the track has become very slippery. Please exercise extreme caution and slow speeds at all times. Cones have been put in place to highlight the most affected areas.

October 2025 - Pike fishing
As per the last couple of years:

The river will be open to pike fishing from 1st October
The lakes will be open to pike fishing from 1st November

October 2025 - Removal of all carp from Jade Lake (Minster)
A holding pen has been positioned on Jade Lake (Minster). Please put any and all carp caught from Jade Lake into the holding pen. The carp will be sold to help fund stocking of club waters.

October 2025 - Removal of small common carp from Stonar
Over the next couple of months, we will be removing (and selling) small common carp up to 13lb from Stonar. This will reduce the overall biomass of the lake and will help increase the growth and health of all species.
If you can help, please let the bailiffs know on arrival.
Update 16/10/2025:
101 common carp were removed from Stonar with a total weight of 750lb.

August 2025 - Stonar Lake closed for the Charity match Saturday 29th to 31st August
£60 entry + sponsors if you can, call Brian on 07305370649
Draw at 4pm Friday 29th, Jock's shed

All proceeds go to Pilgrims Hospice Margate and the NSPCC

July 2025 - Bramble Lake reopening Saturday 2nd August
Bramble lake will reopen Saturday 2nd August.
During the recent rejuvenation the lake was drained, netted and cleared of all carp and then restocked with crucians, tench, rudd & perch.

July 2025 - Grove Lake reopening Wednesday 30th July
Grove lake will reopen Wednesday 30th July.
**You must dip nets and sign in. The signing in book will be in the toilet.**
*Failure to do so will result in a ban.*
Thank you all for your patience, good luck and tight lines.

May 2025 - Stour & Trenley bridges
A team of volunteers spent the day (24th May) building the main frame and supports for the new Stour & Trenley bridges.
A huge thank you to Ben Johnson, Michael Grier, Steve Price, Ben Harris, Rob Farmes, Hughe Malloy, Jon Glazier & Roger Stanger.
The bridges will be finished in time for the start of the season.
Fordwich work parties continue every Sunday from 8:30am in the Fordwich car park.

May 2025 - Grove Lake closed
Grove Lake - Closed Thur 8th May - Further notice due to low oxygen levels

April 2025 - Stonar Lake closure for work parties
Stonar Lake - Closed between Mon 12th May - Friday 16th May

If you can help on any of these days, then please meet at 08:30 Jock's Shed

April 2025 - New gates at Trenley Meadow
The new security gates have been fitted at the entrance to the Trenley Meadow.
A massive thank you to Earnie Millard, Andy Wilton, Ashley Ward and John Glazier.

April 2025 - Pump & Birch Lakes closures for restoration

Pump House Lake - Closed between Mon 14th April - Sunday 20th April
Birch Lake - Closed between Monday 21st April - Sunday 27th April

If you can help, then please meet in pump house lake car park 8:30am on above dates.

April 2025 - Bramble Lake Rejuvenation
Work is continuing on Bramble Lake from the bailiffs as well as volunteers. They have made great progress with the swim rebuilds and marginal snag clearance.
The lake received its initial stock of crucian carp. A total of 130 x 3" to 8" fish are now settling into their new home.
We are aiming for the lake to open June 16th 2025.

April 2025 - Pump Lake
A total of 180lb of common carp have now been removed from Pump Lake to help reduce biomass and increase the health and growth of the remaining stock.

March 2025 - Fordwich Rejuvenation
Over the past 5 weeks FGS Pilcher (specialist contractor for rural works) has been working on Fordwich Lake. This work has been funded by Natural England as a habitat enhancement project. The aim, to reduce the encroaching goat and crack willow trees that limited healthy habitat growth and contributed to poor health of the lake. The scale of this job cannot be overstated; a truly remarkable team of very capable people was required to execute this work.
You will also see that Stour and Trenley Lakes have now become one body of water by the means of three channels. The decision was made to go through with this as a way of helping to stabilise the water quality of the lakes. Another reason for the lakes to be joined was due to excessive bankside erosion from our beaver population. Left to their own devices this joining of the lakes was only a matter of time, and we believe it was better to do it on our terms rather than leave it to the beavers.
As with all these things, there is still a very long road ahead to the rejuvenation of the complex.
A massive thank you to all involved in making this happen.
This video is just a quick cut, the final version of this video presentation is coming during the closed season and is going to be great.

Thank you to Nick Baker for the great footage.

March 2025 - Bramble Lake Rejuvenation
Great progress was made over the past couple of weeks on Bramble Lake at Littlebourne. The lake was drained, and the entire stock of carp was removed. With marginal snags being cleared and encroaching reeds being reduced.
The aim is to restore Bramble Lake to a mixed stock float fishing lake containing, Tench, crucian carp, Rudd and Perch. There is a long way to go, with many jobs to do.

An incredible effort by all involved with special thanks to the following:
Jon Glazier, Jon Weir, Andy Wilton, Alan Farra, Mick Wilson, Colin Hurst, Roger Stanger, Michael Grier, Mike Field, Ben Harris, Ashley Ward and Aaron Cook. Apologies if any names have been missed.

March 2025 - Path shut between Stour and Trenley lakes
Due to works being carried out between Stour and Trenley lakes the path will be shut for the remainder of this season (until June 2025). More information to follow in the next couple of days.

February 2025 - Birch Lake (Littlebourne) Reopening
As from 08:00 Saturday 8th February Birch Lake will be open.

February 2025 - Bramble Lake (Littlebourne) Closed
Rejuvenation work has started on Birch Lake to transform it into a tench and crucian water.

Hydrated lime has been applied to help alleviate with any parasites and help with the water and silt quality. Further works will shortly be carried out, including a huge carp removal.

November 2024 - Birch Lake Closed
Due to low oxygen levels Birch Lake is shut until further notice.

October 2024 - Stour Lake Reopened
After close assessment Stour Lake has reopened on 7th October.

October 2024 - Biomass Reduction on Stonar Lake
As you may remember back in May/June 2024 Stonar lake was shut. This was due to a large percentage of fish being caught had bacterial infections present alongside the carp spawning around the lake. Fish were caught and sent off to the EA labs at Brampton for an emergency health check. The results of the test showed that there was no disease or viral infection present and the fish were given a clean bill of health.
For the past few years it has been bought to the clubs attention during the AGM that the biomass in stoner has hit critical mass, this is predominantly down to the numbers of bream and carp present. The result of this is stunted growth rates of all species due to over competition for food, the bacterial wounds found on a large number of the stock and reduction of natural food for the food chain. We have made the decision to reduce the biomass in the form of bream and smaller carp. The purpose of this project is to improve the general health of the fishery, with increased growth and health of all species and replenish the natural food stocks that reside in this incredibly unique water. An average size of all species has been documented giving us an accurate data set to measure against in the years to follow. We have made contact with one of the countries tier 1 fish breeders and dealers who will purchase the excess stock.

September 2024 - Various Updates
There has been a huge amount of work on Stour Lake this summer & the work is ongoing. The lake will remain shut until dissolved oxygen levels have stabilised following the algal bloom.

Fordwich lake has a Siltex delivery due on October 11th with application to follow once the lake temp has dropped below 12 degrees centigrade. Roach, Carp, tench, bream, eels and perch have been observed in numbers around the lake.

The riverbank between the toilet at Fordwich and the trout pool will remain closed until next season. This will allow the ground to settle and the seed to take. Alterations to swims are also to be made to allow ease of access.

September 2024 - Pike fishing

The river will be open to pike fishing on 1st October.
The lakes will be open to pike fishing on 1st November.

September 2024 - Gate entrance to Pump House lake
The gate to Pump House Lake has been reinstated and uses your members key.
This must be locked after use.

September 2024 - Riverbank at Fordwich closed
Due to work being carried out the riverbank at Fordwich, between the toilet and the trout pool, will be closed until further notice. All other sections remain open.

August 2024 - No keepnets on Stonar
Until further notice, keepnets cannot be used on Stonar.

July 2024 - Stour Lake Closed
Stour lake is shut until further notice.
This is due to an algal bloom on the lake. We have pumps and aeration running when required to help maintain enough oxygen for the fish. Water quality samples and Dissolved oxygen tests are being carried out daily to ensure the safety of the stock.

July 2024 - Stonar Lake Open
The lake was reopened at 8am Friday 5th July.

July 2024 - Birch Lake Open
The lake was reopened on 2nd July after spawning had finished.

October 2022 - Fordwich Lake Update
We have been fairly busy over the last month, just a brief update on a few of the things we have been up to:
We have de-silted and re-battered one of the stock ponds in readiness for any stock. More work is still required to be done, such as removal of encroaching trees and liming. Many thanks to Steven Heckley for operating the 360.
We have raised the riverbank on low points at the rear of Stour Lake and The Trout Pool which will hopefully alleviate some flooding which has been responsible for much of the nitrates and other nasties entering the complex. Many thanks to Keith Heckley for operating the 360.
Fordwich Lake is still being constantly monitored for D02, PH, nitrates, nitrites, phosphates and hardness. The all-important ecology is also being monitored by Jon Glaiser; a more suitable person you would be hard pushed to find.
Silt samples have been taken thanks to the diving skills of Stuart Fagg. These have been assessed by AJS and they have given the green light for the suitability of Siltex application.
Arrangement of Siltex (aquatic chalk) for 21st October. This is no mean task and thanks to Ashley for getting his head around the logistics and liaising with AJS. Crossed fingers all will go swimmingly, not just the delivery, but the application too which will be a huge undertaking.
We will very shortly have risk assessments for both the Siltex application and the tree work necessary on Fordwich (thanks Paul Mercer). To start with teams doing tree work will be guided and instructed by Ashley Towner and all teams will have at least one ticketed operator.
We have been in talks with fishery consultants AJS and Ken Crow, with Ken due to visit shortly and give an in-depth report.