From family farmland to fishing lakes — our story since 1998
The land where Nottinghamshire Nature Lakes now sits has been in the Hartley family for three generations. For decades it was working farmland, with arable fields running down to a stretch of rough ground along Gainsborough Road near Newark. Part of that rough ground included a series of old gravel workings — shallow pits that had slowly filled with water over the years, left behind when extraction finished in the 1970s.
In 1998, Alan Hartley decided to do something with those neglected pools. Rather than fill them in, he began reshaping and deepening them, clearing the banks, and planting reed margins. The first lake, Kingfisher Pool, opened to anglers in the spring of 1999. It was a modest start — a few pegs, a gravel car park, and a honesty box for day tickets. Word spread among local clubs and within two seasons the pegs were regularly full at weekends.
Encouraged by the response, Alan turned his attention to a larger pit further along the site. Heron Water opened in 2002, offering 20 pegs and deeper water suited to match fishing. A third lake, Otter Mere, was developed between 2004 and 2006 specifically as a specimen carp water. Stocked carefully over several years, it now holds mirror and common carp running to over 20 pounds.
Between 2005 and 2008 the site changed character again. Local conservation groups from the Idle Valley area identified several resident species of wading bird along the wet margins between the lakes. Working with the Hartleys, they helped establish a nature trail, planted native hedgerow, and built two bird hides overlooking the wetland edge. Since 2016 the site has been managed day-to-day by Alan's son, David, who grew up on the water and holds the same quiet conviction that looking after the land comes first.
Three lakes, each with its own character. Twelve acres of water in total, fed by natural springs and rainfall.
The original lake and still a favourite with regulars. Shallow, sheltered margins make it ideal for float fishing. Well-stocked with roach, rudd, perch and tench.
The largest lake on site, with deeper water and a good head of bream, tench and pike. Regular venue for club matches throughout the season.
Our specimen carp lake, stocked with mirror and common carp to over 20lb. Quieter and more secluded, with well-spaced swims. Booking essential.
When Alan first began work on the lakes, the wildlife was already here. Kingfishers nested along the old gravel banks, and herons fished the shallows at dawn. As the lakes matured and the margins grew in, the variety of birdlife increased steadily.
In 2005, surveyors from the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust identified several species of wading bird using the wet grassland between Heron Water and Otter Mere. That finding led to a partnership with local conservation volunteers, who helped plant native hedgerow, create scrapes in the meadow, and build two timber bird hides overlooking the wetland edge.
The nature trail was laid out over the following three years. It runs for roughly a mile through the meadow and along the edge of the woodland that borders the northern side of the site. In spring the hedgerows are full of nesting songbirds; in summer the meadow supports a good population of butterflies and dragonflies; and in winter the lakes attract visiting wildfowl including teal, wigeon and the occasional goosander.
We keep disturbance to a minimum along the trail and ask visitors to stay on the paths. The bird hides are open whenever the site is open, and a simple species list is pinned inside each one.
Whether you're planning a day's fishing or a quiet walk, we'd be glad to see you.
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