The Wych Lodge Restoration Project
The lake is situated on the northern slopes of the Blackdown hills, close to the village of Staple Fitzpaine.
It was built in 1904 by the Portman family and was intended for use as a duck shoot.
It was formed by building a 50 metre dam across the lower end of a natural valley to hold back the water from the surrounding hills. The lake is also known as wych lodge or piddlewood lake.
Today the lake is popular with anglers, walkers and nature enthusiasts and many
others who enjoy the peace and tranquility of the lake and its surroundings.
There is a wide variety of wildlife in and around the lake including, otters voles, frogs and toads.The predominant species of fish in the lake are carp, with roach tench and perch also present.
The lakes most famous resident is a very large Terrapin who has been present for many years.
The Problems With The Lake
Over the years large deposits of silt have built up on the bed of the lake.
Weed and vegetation has grown on the silt and the lake has considerably reduced in size and depth over a number of years.
Problems with the dam have recently been identified and urgent work is required to remedy this.
The depth of the water in the lake has dropped from 4 to 5 feet in the 1960's to a mere 1 foot 6 inches to 2 foot today.
Unless the work is carried out in the near future the levels of silt will increase further, the depth of the water will decrease, and in an estimated twenty years the pond will be non-existent with the loss of a much used and loved amenity.
The main aims of this restoration are to improve the facilities at the lake which includes, increasing the number of swims available allowing more anglers to fish, to add more swims with disabled access allowing wheelchair users to access the lake, to maintain and preserve the natural habitat available to the wildlife in and around the lake and to also desilt and restore the lake to as near as possible to its original 1904 size and condition.
The lake is now very near completion and the club hope to reopen the first weekend of May please come back and check for the latest updates.