Last winter’s work parties were the busiest and best attended so far with an incredible 349 man days worked on 26 individual occasions.

The saving to the Association in simple monetary terms could be measured at around £20,000, but the real measure of the volunteers’ efforts is in the rapidly improving state of our venues.

Many thanks to all of them, we greatly appreciate your efforts.

The final development work at Avocet Pool on the Brough Complex has been completed. Swim-side parking areas were created and a rustic fence added, trees and shrubs planted, and the final surface layer applied to the access road.

Further fish have been introduced, with the venue now containing 800+ crucian's, 1000+ rudd, 800+ small tench and 500 ide.

The B Class compulsory work days were focused on a complete overhaul of Burshill B Pond. Over a weekend all swims were replaced and a new path created, utilising 80-tons of hardcore and crushed asphalt – all wheel-barrowed by our hard-working night permit holders.

Recently, new stock has been added to this pond – 450 silver fish, 200 small tench and 350 crucian's, with further quantities of silver fish expected soon and perhaps some larger tench if we can source them.

Volunteers working on the new Avocet Pond at Brough

Members fishing Burshill A reported improved catches following our fish stockings of late 2009.

We have introduced a number of crucian carp in recent weeks and are expecting a delivery of mixed silver fish soon.

Weed remains an issue on both Burshill ponds and we will be implementing measures directed at improving the situation before the season begins.

A complete revamp of Burshill A is planned for January 2011, with a new path, new swims and improved access being the priorities.

Cleaning out unproductive silt from growing on ponds prior to restocking.

At Motorway Pond a major project is planned, with the creation of a secure off-road car park and the installation of a self-composting toilet. The toilet will be of a similar type to the Brough facility, and should it prove successful consideration will be given to installing these toilets at other suitable sites.

As you will appreciate considerable amounts of the Association’s funds have been invested in re-stocking some of our general fisheries, but we have also bought in a number of young fish to ‘top-up’ some of our premier carp venues as some of the older fish die.

This autumn Motorway Pond has received 20 x 5-6lb mirror carp, Brickyard Pond has had 25 x 5-8lb mirror carp, and a further 20 will soon be added to Osprey Lake.

As part of our development plans we are growing further carp on to refresh and improve numbers in Motorway, Osprey, No.2 and 3&4 Ponds at Brandesburton over future years.

While the progress of these venues will be a guide to the future direction we take, there can be no question of us taking the Association into the dead-end of some of the obscenely-stocked commercials, where fish welfare and ultimately, angling’s future, is put at risk.

We hope to tread a middle path that offers consistent sport, while maintaining a healthy and well balanced environment for the fish.

Derek Pye

Creating wire refuges to protect fish at Brough from cormorant predation.