Barnt Green Waters Open Day
Published 01:00 on 8 May 2023
Building on the success of the Open Day around the Bittell Estate last year, Barnt Green Waters, incorporating the Fishing and Sailing Clubs, their associated sporting groups and the Friends of Bittell, are pleased to announce the Estate is to hold another Event on Saturday the 13 th May, to show their facilities with the opportunity to experience sailing, subject to weather conditions, and touring the Estate (on foot) all of which is within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The Fishing Club was established in 1888 and provides a wide range of fishing opportunities in an attractive and peaceful environment covering five stretches of water. Three of these, Lower Bittell, Mill Shrub and Upper Arrow are reserved for fly fishing and are stocked with trout. All three provide bank fishing and there are also boats on the two larger trout pools. The largest reservoir on the Estate (Upper Bittell, 80 acres) is a coarse fishery with a large head of bream, roach and perch and provides excellent pike fishing in the autumn and winter months. The final pool, Lower Arrow, contains tench and carp, as well as bream, roach and perch.
Full members of the Fishing Club can fish in all five pools, while a separate annual membership is available for those who only wish to coarse fish. There are no day tickets available to the public but members may invite guests to fish on payment of a small fee.
The Sailing Club (Est. 1918) is one of the premier sailing clubs in the West Midlands and membership is open to all categories. We are also an RYA Teaching Establishment, providing Junior Training courses from the age of 7, together with adult courses. We feel sure that whether you are an experienced sailor, or a newcomer to the sport, you will gain a great deal should you decide to join us. Much of our activity is centred on racing but we also encourage informal sailing outside the racing programme.
You are not limited to just dinghy sailing at the Club, as we also have a sailboarding section, an expanding paddleboarding group and a small team of canoeists and kayakers. To maintain our recognised status as an RYA Training Centre, the facilities and training are regularly reviewed and inspected by the RYA. We are committed to running race training courses, and to increasing the numbers of instructors and Club racing coaches.
In addition to the two clubs, the estate is home to activities organised by other groups. For those new to paddleboarding or wishing to try this activity, we can introduce you to Sean, of Devine Rides, who is a fully qualified coach and can provide you with tuition to specific levels to ensure you are safe on the water. The Birmingham, Running & Triathlon Club (BRATS) organises open water swimming at Upper Bittell for their members from May to September, to help them train for competitive swimming events.
Anyone interested in natural history and the countryside can join our Friends of Bittell section which gives access to the Estate. The reservoirs are home to a range of wading birds and a stopping off point for many species of migrants, and this section includes the well-established Birdwatchers.
We would be pleased to welcome you to Upper Bittell on Saturday the 13th May, between the hours of 11.00am and 4:00pm, to meet up with the various sporting sections and activities, obtain the information you need first hand and the relevant direct points of contact to hopefully join us and take part in one or more of the above membership activities.
We look forward to meeting you.
Last updated 13:22 on 11 March 2024