Sam and Kayleigh purchased Willow View Lake at the beginning of 2020.
They were fully aware that both the lake and its surrounding grounds were in need of some much-needed attention. However, they could see the potential and were excited to take on the challenge of bringing the lake back to life.
Over the years, dead leaves, plant matter and other organic material had naturally broken down and accumulated on the lake bed. Left unmanaged, this sediment had gradually reduced the lake’s depth and, in turn, its ability to provide the best possible environment for the fish.
At the end of 2020, permission was granted by the DDTM to fully drain the lake, allowing major renovation work to begin.
As part of this process, more than 60 large trees were removed from around the lake’s edges. This opened up the area considerably, improving both light and airflow.
Although removing so many trees felt like a huge amount of destruction at the time, it was an essential step. Reducing the number of trees helped lessen the demand on the water resource during the summer months, while also limiting the amount of leaves and organic matter entering the lake during the winter.
Fast-forward ten months, and the lake bed had finally dried sufficiently for excavation to begin. The accumulated silt was removed, restoring much-needed depth and creating the best possible foundations for the fish to thrive and grow in the years ahead.
With the lake empty, it was also the perfect opportunity to completely reinvent the lake bed. A variety of new features were created, giving anglers a multitude of different areas and features to fish to.
During this time, a brand-new vidange was also constructed, providing much greater control over the lake’s water levels going forward.
Once the major works were complete, the lake was limed and allowed to gradually refill. This marked the beginning of the next exciting stage of the renovation, with planting and swim building soon getting underway.
