Reading West MP Martin Salter, who is the Parliamentary spokesman for angling, and the new Rural Affairs Minister Barry Gardiner MP are backing the Environment Agency’s drive to get more people fishing next week.
Mr Gardiner and Mr Salter will be at one of two free angling days being held by the Environment Agency at Beale Park, Pangbourne, Berkshire next week as part of National Fishing Week (19 – 28 August).
Following on from the success of last year’s event, when over 200 people of all ages experienced the thrill of fishing, the Beale Park event aims to give the everyone, from complete beginners to more experienced anglers, the opportunity to learn new angling skills.
The angling days take place on Monday 21 August and Tuesday 22 August between 9.30am and 4.30pm. Mr Gardiner and Mr Salter will be joining novices and more experienced anglers on Tuesday morning, but people can turn up at any time on either day and have a go.
Qualified angling experts from the National Federation of Anglers will be on hand to give people one-to-one tuition sessions and children who attend will receive a £2 reduction on their entrance to Beale Park.
Fisheries officers from the Environment Agency will have educational environmental displays and will also be organising supervised pond-dipping sessions where youngsters can learn more about water-life.
Mr Salter said: “I’m really pleased that the new rural affairs minister has found time to give his personal support to the excellent contribution that the Environment Agency is making to National Fishing Week, which aims to get even more people to take up Britain’s most popular participant sport.”
Chris Bell, fisheries officer at the Environment Agency, said: “Angling days like this give families a real opportunity to have a go at fishing. Angling is a fantastic pastime as it gives children a real chance to get close to nature and learn about the different species of fish.
“By giving people the chance to have a go at angling we are providing the opportunity to get closer to nature through a pastime which can become a hobby for life.”
For further information, please call Chris Bell on 01491 828358.
