On Track Fishing Sanctuary Garden And Fishing Pond

Aim

Creating a safe haven for mental health sufferers whilst including on site fishing activities proven medically to benefit mental health.

Since our launch in September 2021, we have had a huge response to On Track Fishing a project based in East Lindsey Lincolnshire. We Promote fishing and the benefits it has on Mental Health in adults and children.

We deliver social fishing days, taster/experience days and fun junior fishing days around Lincolnshire. We also Donate fishing equipment to people who would benefit from it the most.

We are growing a great Fishing community by promoting Health and Wellbeing, helping those who may feel Vulnerable in new environment and help by teaching and educating not only Fish care but Environmental wellbeing within Lakes, Rivers, and open spaces.

our Project. We have had hundreds of people asking to not only join us to either start fishing or to be reintroduced to fishing, but also to volunteer and give up their free time to help. we have already Featured in local news and BBC LINCOLNSHIE RADIO. 

On Track lodge and sanctuary pond Project

Friskney, Lincolnshire

ON TRACK FISHING Is Renting a plot of land that has a well-stocked fishing pond and lodge on it with the intention of turning the lodge into an office and storage space and the pond and surrounding land into the perfect peaceful sanctuary for people with mental health issues. We will be using the pond as a training water for new anglers to use with one of our coaches before moving on to public lakes and rivers. The project will be developed through a mix of the use of volunteer help and professional labour. With On Track Fishing, supported by Angling Trust Running the project. We will be inviting volunteers from all age groups children through to pensioners.

The project aims.

THE POND AND GROUNDS:

We want to create the perfect environment for wildlife by turning firstly a disused pond into a quality haven for fish, insects, birds and plants. The revival of the pond will also have 3 fishing pegs with disabled access placed on it for fishing coaching, with keeping the fishing limited to 3 pegs it will help us to allow the wildlife to thrive. Only people who come forward through On Track Fishing will have access to the pond allowing us to protect the inhabitants of the pond at all times.

We intend to revitalise this space through volunteers with Mental Health issues so they can gain new social bonds and work on a project that will ultimately always be there for them to come to and work on improvements as the years go on. It will also provide them with a sense of achievement and give them something to look forward to working on when they are struggling. The pond being a main focus for the project would include reintroducing fish species and specific plant species to encourage birds and insects. The quaint small pond is also an ideal place for people who have extreme MHI’s who struggle to be around other people and would give us the opportunity to work with them one on one with no interruption and work towards the ultimate goal of taking them out fishing and building their confidence to be around other people.

THE GROUNDS:

The grounds around the pond will be landscaped with wildlife in mind with wild flowers and rockeries introduced and raised planters for disabled access with a path running around the pond for wheelchair use. All trees would be topped and cut back to allow sun light back in and bird feeders and boxes introduced to encourage new species of birds in. 

The grounds are already a haven for many animals and wildlife, with nesting barn owls, Muntjacs and deer all coming in the grounds as well as an abundance of other birds and horses on the other side of the fence. The area is set in the Lincolnshire country side surrounded by fields and a large riding school a perfectly peaceful area to create the haven we want to provide. With the plot being owned by the riding school we feel it would also make a great partnership as we can encourage our patrons to try other activities like horse riding to compliment their road to recovery and confidence building. We also feel that riding days would be a great addition to junior activities to keep them engaged with us.

THE FISHING LODGE:

On Track Fishing has seen fast growth in the last six months and have now found the need to have a office. We were never keen on just renting a office in a faceless concrete building in an estate somewhere. We wanted a office and a sanctuary for people to visit with a warm inviting feel within a calming environment that showed that we as a group are always looking forward in ways to help people battle there MHI’s.

The lodge will be a place of business but also a safe haven where anglers can come when they can’t get out fishing. Or just want to come and sit and watch the fish in a peaceful beautiful environment.

The lodge would also work as a point for teaching angling as well with sessions being part indoor/ part on the pond so we can also teach indoors when the weather is not favourable keeping the project viable all year round.

With a project like this you may wonder why would a fishing project want to do gardening?

As a group we always look towards how we can encourage people to enjoy outdoor spaces and look at the best ways to enjoy them, so we feel that if we bring Anglers and non Anglers together in a project that combines people keen on the beauty of outdoor spaces and the fun of Angling whilst surrounded by nature we can bring a whole new kind of Angling community together that has a common goal which is to always enjoy outdoor spaces but always look at ways we can all improve them for others to enjoy. 

The very fact that is, if someone comes to an amazing open space created by Anglers it will only promote angling and the people that do it in a positive way and encourage others to get more involved with the angling community.

THE RIDING SCHOOL:

The riding school is a key component to our plans.

We recognise that riding can also be a great way to combat mental health and would like to be able to work closely and in conjunction with them by bringing our patrons into the school to try other activities that can also help build confidence and focus as well as physical fitness. 

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN:

Firstly we have made an amazing deal with the owners of the land as way of us renting the disused lodge, Pond and land giving them a rental income. We also see it as a opportunity for the static caravan to be used as a holiday rental with fishing and horse riding. Having us in the lodge daily would mean that any activities held on the land would be overseen by us for the safety of land and patron. With the added bonus of having their land landscaped to the highest standard  

We Have agreed a rental amount inclusive of electric and water This is agreed to be ongoing for the duration that we use the area.

We are looking to fund this project through grants and donations and a mix of volunteer and paid labour. 

We are looking to work with AT, with them having a proactive role in the project as well as the environment agency, British landscape association and local Mental Health charities and crisis teams. 

The project will need a fair amount of funding but with its year on year benefits to so many people it will not only be one of the first of its kind in Lincolnshire but a road map for similar projects to follow and look to for advise and help in the future creating more hidden gems become open useable spaces to give more people access to Angling and encourage more MH sufferers to join a project that will help them find some peace and clarity in the their most troubling times.

WHY SO RURAL?

We realise some may have concerns about the location of the project being so rural but we are local to the area and when we researched the local area we found  some great  points to bring to the attention of those with concerns.

Firstly our project would be perfectly situated in between Skegness and the large town of Boston. Both being about a 20-minute drive away and also the beautiful villages of Wrangle, Friskney, and Old Leake are just a stone through away five minutes in any direction. All villages have a great range of shops, takeaways, pubs, and restaurants.

Skegness is a wonderful seaside town with many beautiful beaches and so many activities it really has something for everyone, on top of that there are fishing lakes in abundance for people to visit as their confidence grows.

Boston is a large market town with a bustling community with many beautiful old buildings and shops. Boston also still has a working flourmill and fishing dock that still is in use with trawlers still coming in there to unload their catch.

Within the vicinity there is a few other non-profit companies running with great success. Within 1 ½ miles of our proposal.

Grandmas pudding co: Friskney 

A great community kitchen helping people with learning difficulties, working in the café serving and preparing food for customers. They have featured on tv news and radio and have a really busy café.

Askfield project: Friskney

The Askfield project is a care farm offering farming experiences to children and people with mental health issues. Due to the success of the project, it has experienced great growth and is offering a great and busy project.

Lincolnshire wildlife park: Friskney

Formally known as the parrot zoo this non-profit brings in thousands of visitors into Friskney year round, having the largest collection of parrots in the country and with their rapid growth and the introduction of the largest collection of Tigers, and now also Lions, Puma and many more animals it really is the most wonderful place in Friskney.

We feel being situated within so many other great projects and areas of such natural beauty can only help drive our project into the next level of things to do in the county and the village of Friskney.

We would be able to work with all the other projects to set up a real mix of activities to help all with mental health issues and all introduced through fishing.

WHO ELSE WILL BENEFIT? 

We aim to help at least 200 people a year get into fishing or reintroduce people into fishing throughout our wide spectrum of fishing activities. With a minimum of 15 people at everyone of our social events we have already support around 90 people this year. 

With our experience days we are currently supporting about 3 people a week and we think that would double with the office and pond.

With the added landscaping project we would expect to add at least another 50 people per year coming to us with them, then being introduced to fishing as well.

We have set up a Angling Youth team set up of a group of 10-16 year olds.

These are all mental health sufferers and will benefit no end to having a base they can come to train and learn new skills in angling and also create social bonds. Having a place they can come to and see as their “home ground” is so important to them as it builds confidence within a comfortable setting. The team will work not just on their angling but work on the land landscaping and learning about the nature around them.

RNIB have contacted us asking us to work with the visually impaired, being the first project of its kind that not only offers adapted Angling equipment for them to use whilst fishing but the opportunity to work on the land and help with planting and upkeep of grounds. This project has the opportunity to change the lives of the visually impaired in Lincolnshire and our immediate area giving them the opportunity to get out in the fresh air and meet people, something seriously lacking in the our area for the visually impaired. Most importantly, they will be in a safe, environment where they can feel safe and comfortable.   

This project closed unsuccessfully on 20th May 2022