This post is from Karen Clark – Reels on Wheels East Anglia volunteer for Norfolk… and we thank her!
I stumbled across this fishery about a month ago in the Wroxham Angling tackle shop window. While talking to Martin (the owner), about Reels-on-Wheels and disabled-friendly fisheries, I had a brainwave! The fishery had only been open for 12 months and looking at the pictures I wanted to go have a look.
I rang and spoke to a lovely lady called Mandy Dicken who was very helpful and obliging in answering my questions regarding Reels-on-Wheels and the whole concept of it. She asked if I would meet up with her and have a look round to see what I thought and what they could do to make it more disabled-friendly and more easily accessible for people with mobility issues.
Today, I met up with Andrew and Mandy Dicken at Dilham fishery. WOW, what a place!!! I was greeted with what I can only describe as a little oasis, not what I was expecting at all from a 12 month old fishery! It’s an absolutely beautiful place and they have done so much with this lake already – looking at the pictures of how it was to how it is now and they haven’t stopped yet! Their plans are ongoing…
The paths to Pegs 1-11 are very wheelchair accessible; past there the ground is like thick sawdust. We talked about what else could be done to make it more “wheelchair-friendly and kicker boards at the front of the platforms around 4”-6” high were suggested and they were more than happy to do this; it was mentioned pegs 1-11 could be a possibility. A disabled toilet was already in the foundation stage but as we all know, building a whole new venture, things take time. I forwarded on to Andrew & Mandy the specs for a disabled toilet with measurements, etc. as they were unsure of them and I feel everyone was left on a positive note. I used this access guide as an example.
Hot and cold food & drink is also available, delivered to your peg, eggs freshly laid by the resident chickens, how’s that for service!!
The lake is stocked with tench, carp (all varieties), F1s, Rudd – the water was alive with tiny miniatures that proves they have done something right for the fish to have spawned and be happily getting on with their lives alongside Mrs Crisp, the family pet and resident Duck. Just a word of warning: If you fish from peg 1, you will have to share that with Mrs Crisp as that is her launching pad and she has already made her little walkway from the side of the platform to the lake!
Fishing is day tickets, purchased from the owners at the venue – £5 adults, £4 under 16s. Fishing is from dawn to dusk. Rules: No groundbait and no keepnets. Your landing net must be dipped in the tanks provided. They do sell their own pellets which can be used as hookbait, but other baits can be purchased from nearby Wroxham Angling. Dilham is a charming place, midway between Great Yarmouth and Norwich, just off the main road.
I would like to thank Andrew and Mandy for a very warm welcome and look forward to meeting up with them again and having a fish myself.
Photos to follow…
Please note – Karen was invited to go along and view this fishery by Andrew and Mandy and talk to them about Reels on Wheels and the Buddy System. She has passed on links to a disabled access specification web page in order for them to get an idea of measurements for their toilet. The kicker boards would need to be added to make the platforms safe for a wheelchair-using angler, like myself. Nick.
It looks like a very special venue Karen, and I can understand why you’d like to go and fish there.
Hi All
You talk about what needs to be done to make a fishery more accessible for wheelchair users so what qualifies you to do this, there are regulations etc you need to no about, have you been on an access audit course and the information you are giving to this fishing complies with DDA (Disability Discrimination Act 1995). You cannot just give out what you think is best, You say “talked about what else could be done to make it more “wheelchair-friendly and kicker boards at the front of the platforms around 4”-6” high were suggested and they were more than happy to do this” are you correct with the measurements, what materials are you using etc.
The BDAA are the best people to discus all things to do with making fisheries accessible as they have a guide to making a fishery “Wheelchair Friendly” that complies with DDA rules etc.
Cheers
Pete
Hello Pete,
Thank you for your comments….so to answer some of the points you have raised.
Firstly I am a wheelchair user I think I know what I need as do many of my friends who use chairs.
The information we give people complies with the DDA act.
The recommended height for a kicker board is 6 inches and as for materials that will depend on the fishery.
They can create a concrete base or use paving slabs and in some cases they can use timber.
We have done our homework and we do mention the BDAA to people should they want to get further advice or help.
Some fisheries find it hard to make improvements to their fishery for many reasons and lets not forget that there are many degrees of disabilities so any improvement to help anglers is a good thing.
Hope that answers some of your points.
Nick
Hi Nick
Thanks fine just concerned as have ben to some fisheries who thought they had done a good job of making their fishery “wheelchair accessible” and have made a right mess of things.
There are also other issues such as Insurance etc you have to think about while giving advise to fisheries.
Cheers
Pete
Hi Pete,
Thanks for your comments and concerns……we can at the end of the day only give people advice…
Nick
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