Anglers' rights and fishing responsibly on Hampstead Heath

Subsequent relandscaping removed 50% of fishable bank. The 300-year history of Hampstead Heath angling had not been properly considered by the City of London Corporation, which controls Hampstead Heath.

I fished these ponds as a teenager in the 1960s, later with my sons and now as a pensioner, drawn to the tranquil atmosphere just a few miles north of Kings Cross.

Anglers have been using Hampstead Heath for 300 years (Image: HAHAS) This reduction of fishing territory felt unjust. Other anglers thought likewise and in July 2018 we founded the Hampstead and Highgate Angling Society (HAHAS). After mentioning that Jeremy Paxman is HAHAS’ vice-president, I was invited to attend the Heath Sports Forum and became the angling representative.

I have raised angling-related issues: restoring bank space, water quality, oxygen levels, sewage, dog pollution (from pesticides in flea and tick treatment) and the ongoing debate about the Heath’s retention of the close season from March 15 to June 15, which the Environment Agency (EA) abandoned on still waters in 1995. This last point remains a massive sticking point to making real progress with giving anglers parity with other Heath users.

HAHAS has funded the only purpose-built disabled fishing platform on the five fishing ponds on the Heath

Rob Gibbs co-founded the HAHAS in 20218 (Image: HAHAS) HAHAS has bought its own oxygenator to prevent another catastrophe like the 2023 oxygen crash in Number 2 pond, where many trophy fish suffocated. The Heath’s own kit was inadequate and it was anglers who contacted the EA, who arrived just in time to stop a total fish kill.

HAHAS has held fishing tuition sessions since 2019 involving local schools and families and holding club evenings, as well as an annual 'Give Angling A Go' day-long event.

These sessions cost the City of London nothing as HAHAS provides rods, poles, bait and seating, all overseen by seven Sport England-qualified fishing coaches and DBS checked volunteers, making HAHAS one of Inner London’s best equipped angling tuition providers.

The HAHAS provide angling tuition for young people (Image: HAHAS) The City of London’s adherence to the close season is a barrier to extending the tuition: fishing is allowed only after June 16, therefore schools have one month before the summer break to squeeze in a session - during an extremely busy time in the school calendar. This impediment has excluded several interested schools.

The NHS has prescribed angling as an excellent tonic for mental health problems, which are soaring among the young. The City of London has not budged on its stance of keeping the close season, while the world and his or her wife has access to the ponds all year. An opportunity to engage people in this mindful activity is being squandered.

Anglers are the eyes and ears of the ponds – often the first to spot a problem. HAHAS is fully committed to preaching the gospel of responsible angling: barbless hooks, unhooking mats, keeping the banks free of litter and inspiring a new generation to be the guardians of the ponds.

For more information on HAHAS: thehahas.co.uk

• Robert (Bob) Gibbs is co-founder of Hampstead and Highgate Angling Society (HAHAS)