Fishing Bough Beech Home Page

Catching the imagination as well as the fish - estate yard bay

Kent Wildlife Trust - Visitors Centre

The nature reserve and visitors centre are situated at the northern end of Bough Beech reservoir with the reserve offering a great vantage point from which to view the water. The whole of the reserve can be seen from the causeway at Winkhurst Green and it continues to be a very popular spot for bird watching throughout the year.

The Bough Beech Centre is a carefully converted 19th Century oast house adjacent to the reserve and its informative displays attract thousands of visitors a year. The surrounding farmland, ponds, streams, woods and orchards set the scene for a peaceful and most enjoyable countryside experience.

The centre's displays include details of the reservoir, its construction and presentations running from 11 am to 4.30 pm. Facilities include toilets, a picnic barn as well as a small shop offering information regarding the nature reserve and the work carried out by the trust. Sutton and East Surrey Water work closely with the KWT and offer a dual visit for school groups with the morning spent at the nature reserve and oast house followed with the afternoon spent visiting the reservoir and water treatment works.

The visits provide details on the day to day workings including information on hop growing, how the oast house was used in the past and how the nature reserve provides habitats for many resident and visiting birds. Details of the many plants and animals which thrive along the nature trail are also available at the centre open to the public from April to October on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.

Fisheries Management

Little bough project

On site - A recent lake refurbishment undertaken through the winter months of 2004/05 was a fantastic success. The site was originally dug as a brick pit over 200 years ago for the extraction of wealden clay for construction.

Extensive work was carried out and required the initial clearing of marginal growth and surrounding trees, netting of existing fish stock and subsequent removal of several centuries of of silt and debris.

So the transformation began and after much hard work by all those involved this now completed project will continue to provide another quality fishing amenity for many years to come offering excellent sport with full access available for disabled anglers.

Nearest rail stations:

Penshurst and Sevenoaks.
Metrobus 231 & 233 from Tunbridge wells and
Edenbridge to the village of Bough Beech (2 mile walk).
Arriva bus 404 from Sevenoaks to Ide Hill (2 mile walk).

For full directions to the village of Bough Beech and the reservoir please use the link below

LINKS .......... .

Sutton and East Surrey Water services company sites with amenity value include excellent fishing organised by Honeycroft (BBR) Ltd at Bough Beech including sailing run by the Bough Beech Sailing Club. The Chiddingstone river intake allows fishing along a stretch of the River Eden and is let to the South Norwood Angling Club.

Fetcham Pond which is situated beside a public footpath is maintained as a visual amenity and Cheam works has a small natural pond of local environmental interest maintained as a habitat for aquatic life. At the request of local environmental groups no public access is allowed to this particular site.

As well as fishing amenities available at Bough Beech reservoir a total of twenty hectares of the water forms the nature reserve and is managed in conjunction with the Kent Wildlife Trust.

The reserve attracts huge local and national interest in the several hundred plus species of birds and wildfowl that take residence at the reservoir. Being continually documented throughout the seasons this comprehensive list can be viewed by following the link below.

The muddy margins exposed throughout the summer and autumn months are a haven to many waders such as lapwing and little ringed plover. Other areas of woodland and willow scrub provide furthers habitats for birds attracted by the rich pickings. For further detailed information on the work of the KWT please click on associated links.

Directions:

Bough Beech is situated between Tonbridge, sevenoaks and edenbridge in the West of the County. Follow the brown 'duck signs' from the B2042 South of Ide Hill or the B2027, east of the village of Bough Beech.

Contact: Mr K Crow, Honeycroft Farm, Three Elm Lane, Golden Green, Tonbridge TN11 0BS.

Telephone: 01732 851544.