Nature at White Acres
  Fishing Information call 01726 862519

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The lakes at White Acres are a paradise for Fishermen, they also provide a haven for a wide variety of wildlife. So whilst enjoying the delights of a good day’s fishing take time to look around you – you might be surprised at what you see.

Wildlife expert Dave Thomas gives a few pointers: Along with the resident swans, mallard and Canada geese we also get lots of flying visitors to our lakes. Take a leisurely stroll around the lakes and you will be rewarded with sightings of a wide variety of wild ducks and geese who fly from as far a field as Northern Europe.

Watch out also for grebes, dabchicks, coots, herons stalking the margins, reed and sedge warblers nesting along the bank sides and even the occasional blue flash of a kingfisher. The Barn owl and Tawny owl have also been sighted here. You cannot miss barn owls when they are out hunting; they are pure white with light brown wings.

In the winter months they can be seen flying around the bottom fields looking for mice and other rodents. Barn owls do not have a call so if you hear an owl calling it will more than likely be a tawny owl hooting from the woods.
Watch out also for evidence of badgers and foxes by their footprints and trails. If you are into a bit of night time fishing you might even spot one!

White Acres provides lots of opportunities for youngsters to find out more about nature. There are clubs, youth gardening schemes, pond dipping, collage making and paint & photo competitions. We also have a Nature Trail - designed for all ages to enjoy and developed in conjunction with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, RSPB, English Nature and DEFRA.

When the lakes were first created they looked like barren moonscapes. But before long the replaced topsoil is lush with grasses and wild flowers such as hemp agrimony, cranesbill, cow parsley, docks and the striking purple loosestrife, teasel … and are quickly alive with dragon and damsel flies, butterflies and other insects.

Nature is given a helping hand as thousands of pounds are spent every year on planting. The right vegetation is not just lovely to look at, it is also crucial for the health of the fish and their willingness to feed. Submerged plants are introduced: species of starwort, pondweed, and water lilies which oxygenate the water through the day and offer cover for tiny invertebrate animals – the natural food of most fish.

In the margins the planting includes flag irises, water mint, Carex species of sedges, and Juncas rushes. It’s a carefully selected palette of plants that help prevent erosion of the banks, provide spawning sites for the fish and good screening between the pegs.
White Acres has planted a large number of additional trees - Alder, Hazel, Beech and English Oak as well as improving the hedgerows with Hawthorn, Beech, Holly and Elder to encourage wildlife habitation.

Creating a beautiful nature reserve is a by product of creating a fine fishery. All in all, it is a wonderful example of how good fishery management and environmental concern work for the benefit of both at White Acres. We have a wildlife log book at White Acres reception so please feel free to record your sightings here.