Last year, the Oxford Mail published articles about the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, which bought 100 acres of land at Gallows Bridge Farm to preserve a habitat for curlew.
Within this 100 acres was a small lake, of about one acre, on which Thame Angling Club took a five-year lease. However, before the five years elapsed, it had to give up the lease because of falling membership.
A former chairman of the club took on the lease and formed another club called Hook, Line and Sinker, for people over 40.
When Thame AC originally took on the lease, the lake was not much more than a hole in the ground, so the club bought almost 500 trees and bushes to transform it into a wildlife-friendly area which, grew into a mini nature reserve.
I recognised at least 27 different birds there, including barn owls. In the summer, butterflies and dragonflies were abundant.
However when talks took place with BBOWT, it was obvous they were not interested in angling. And, due to financial reasons, it was decided to terminate the lease at the end of June 2008.
Although sad to lose the lake after all the work and money the members had put in, I did not expected the outcome that unfolded.
Our members went to look at the lake and found it had been drained, with most of the trees cut down.
This is a most extraordinary thing for a wildlife trust to do, and all I can describe it as is wildlife vandalism. Regarding the fish, I have been unable to find out their fate.
All I know is they have been removed. I asked the Environment Agency’s fishery officer for our area if she obtained any information regarding their removal, but have not received any feedback.
All movements of fish must be passed by the agency to prevent disease being spread around the country, which is a very serious matter.
I am horrified at what has been done.
R A NEIL, Nelson Street, Thame
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