Unfortunately, Forestry England cannot open the Visitor Centre on Monday 13th July 2020 as they had hoped to as a result of being short staffed, therefore all FAS members that have not registered their vehicles to date must do so by emailing them as detailed previously: see previous posts for details.

Manual registration via a trip to the Alice Holt Visitor Centre in only available on alternate Mondays in July & August (dates below), between 10.00am – 3.00pm.

The Visitor Centre at Alice Holt will ONLY be open for member’s vehicle registration on the following dates due to staffing issues:
• Monday the 13th July
• Monday the 27th of July
• Monday 10th August
• Monday 24th of August

(Don't be a Gruffalo and arrive on the wrong day, they will not be open and you will not be able to fish !)

The following procedure will be in place:

· All registrations will occur outside of the Visitor Centre, we will set up a table for registration within our zoned area.
· Members will queue patiently two meters apart
· Members will arrive and place their membership book on the table facing the correct way (please could all members clearly write their vehicle registration and telephone number on a piece of paper before arriving: this will also be photographed)
· Visitor Centre member of staff will take photo of membership book with all of the info on the secure Visitor Centre phone
· Member will take membership book and leave
· Member will have their membership, vehicle and phone number details added to the registration system and will be advised of the new security code for the main gate
· Visitor Centre staff will wipe table and start again
· Please be patient whilst queuing

The Visitors Centre will not be opening up at weekends, which is their busiest time. Whilst not ideal, it is the best we can do at present. In due course, as Covid-19 restrictions hopefully lift in the future, in September a weekday may become available every week and a weekend day as well may become possible.

Message from Forestry Enterprise at Alice Holt which Farnham AS wholly agree with and support
Be kind.
Be patient.
This is a new experience for all of us.
We need your help to make this work.
Thank you for your support, both Forestry England & Farnham Angling Society are doing our best for you.

1/. New combination lock code:
The code for the combination lock at the external gate at Alice Holt to gain access for Lodge Pond had to be changed for security reasons.
The new code can be automatically issued by email response to you when you register your vehicle (1 per member), by email.

Once obtained, the code must not be shared on social media and may only be shared with current FAS members.
If you choose to go fishing without the code (not recommended) you MUST leave the Alice Holt site by 8.45pm (check their seasonal opening hours online) or you WILL be locked in for the night.

2/. Due to Covid-19 Social Distancing requirements, the public car parks at Alice Holt are only operating at 65% capacity, this has implications for members arriving to go fishing whilst Alice Holt is open to the general public.
This means that queues are developing at the barriers as the park gets busy, with a 1 in 1 out system in place once the car park is full.
This means that anglers will have to patiently queue along with the general public wishing to use the forest, if arriving after 7.30am as Alice Holt opens at 8.00am.
It also means, that once you get to Lodge Pond having queued to get into Alice Holt, you may arrive to find all the swims occupied.
Therefore, we recommend that all members wishing to fish Lodge Pond arrive well before 8.00am or after 6.00pm as Night Fishing is still allowed and that way the queuing should be avoided. That said, it does not mean that there will necessarily be a swim available on this extremely popular fishery.

3/. Car Registration
As per the normal arrangements, all Members must register their vehicle (1 per member), with the Visitor Centre at Alice Holt. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the Visitor Centre is closed the majority of the time (see above), , so the easiest way for Members wishing to fish Lodge Pond is to do the following:

a. Via email to:     Enquiries.aliceholt@forestryengland.uk
This is currently only available online and will only be checked Monday – Friday.
i) Name
ii) Car Registration number: Be certain it is correct, as you will not be recognised as an FAS member if it is not, and will be charged for parking as if you had been in the public car park.
iii) Picture of Permit – with permit number
iv) Contact phone number

Once you have sent your email, you will receive an automatic response email which you can ignore, but within 48-hrs you will then receive a second confirmation email which will include the new code for the gate. Once you have received your email it means that you have been registered and your vehicle is now active.

You cannot go fishing at Lodge Pond without registering your vehicle.

Note:
1/. You must register your car before you go fishing, even if you go at night, because if you have to leave during the day the barrier will need to recognise your number plate. The intercom system at the barriers is normally manned via the Visitor Centre, but currently it is closed, so you would cause congestion and have to pay for that day’s parking charges at a machine before leaving.

2. When you are bailiffed, you will be asked to show your FAS handbook and tell the bailiff your car registration details as well.

3. Any member reported as or found to be parking at Forest Lodge Garden Centre will be asked to leave the fishery and will face a Disciplinary hearing in the future and are likely to be barred from fishing Lodge Pond on a permanent basis, combined with a Suspension or an Expulsion.

4/. Speed Limits: reduced from 15mph to 10mph
Whilst driving on site, please remember that the speed limit has now been reduced to 10mph along the forest tracks, reduced from 15mph so that all other users including walkers and their dogs, joggers and cyclists are safer. Please be extremely considerate of these other users.
Speed checks will be carried out on an ad-hoc basis and anyone found breaking the 10mph speed limit will face disciplinary action and may well be barred from fishing Lodge Pond on a permanent basis, combined with a Suspension or an Expulsion.

All incidents of Members reported to the rangers at Alice Holt for driving dangerously will be investigated and will also face disciplinary action.
The tracks are currently busier than normal due to Covid-19 so it is VERY important that all members abide by the speed limit or disciplinary action will take place.

5/. BBQs
Members are reminded that no BBQs or fires of any kind may be used at Lodge Pond/Alice Holt at any time, but the use of primus stoves are acceptable.

6/. Covid-19 precautions
All Farnham AS members and bailiffs must abide by the 2m Social Distancing (SD) requirements at all times. This applies not only whilst fishing at Lodge Pond, but also whilst out of your car and within Alice Holt, whether visiting the FAS toilet, visiting the Visitor Centre or for any other reason.
Members from different households may share a swim, providing that they maintain the 2m SD rules at all times.
Members ignoring SD rules will be warned and if non-compliance continues, they will be asked to leave the fishery and will face a Disciplinary hearing in the future and are likely to be barred from fishing Lodge Pond on a permanent basis, combined with a Suspension or an Expulsion.

Please remember that Alice Holt is extremely bust at weekends, so we advise Members arrive early and leave late to avoid the considerable queues.

Ian Gray, Honorary Secretary
On behalf of the Executive Committee

Stay safe & best regards, Ian

Ian Gray – Honorary Secretary

Farnham Angling Society

THIS IS AN UPDATE POST FROM EARLIER TODAY: 

The system has now been simplified thanks to the help of Forestry England. 

For those of you who have already emailed and received a an automated email – you DO NOT need to send another email.  You will receive a confirmation email in due course.

 1/. New combination lock code:

The code for the combination lock at the external gate at Alice Holt to gain access for Lodge Pond has been changed for security reasons.

The new code will be automatically issued by email response to you when you register your vehicle (1 per member), by email or face to face (only available 1/2 day every 2 weeks) : see point 3/. Below.

Once obtained, the code must not be shared on social media and may only be shared with current FAS members.

If you choose to go fishing without the code (not recommended) you MUST leave the Alice Holt site by 8.45pm (check their seasonal opening hours online) or you WILL be locked in for the night.

2/. Due to Covid-19 Social Distancing requirements, the public car parks at Alice Holt are only operating at 65% capacity, this has implications for members arriving to go fishing whilst Alice Holt is open to the general public.

This means that queues are developing at the barriers as the park gets busy, with a 1 in 1 out system in place once the car park is full.

This means that anglers will have to patiently queue along with the general public wishing to use the forest, if arriving after 7.30am as Alice Holt opens at 8.00am.

It also means, that once you get to Lodge Pond having queued to get into Alice Holt, you may arrive to find all the swims occupied.

Therefore, we recommend that all members wishing to fish Lodge Pond arrive well before 8.00am or after 6.00pm as Night Fishing is still allowed and that way the queuing should be avoided.  That said, it does not mean that there will necessarily be a swim available on this extremely popular fishery.

3/. Car Registration

As per the normal arrangements, all Members must register their vehicle (1 per member), with the Visitor Centre at Alice Holt. But due to the Covid-19 pandemic the Visitor Centre is closed most of the time, so all Members wishing to fish Lodge Pond must do one of the following:

Rangers advised those that were fishing on Lodge Pond, who packed up and left the venue shortly after, following which was secured with a new padlock so no access will be possible.

Please note that Members may not park at Forest Lodge Garden Centre, and access the venue from the public footpath. Any vehicles which are witnessed being parked with fishing tackle unloaded (there are security cameras), will be reported to us and any Members identified will face disciplinary action which is likely to result in loss of membership.

Please note that this is a Forestry England decision and Farnham Angling Society will advise in due course, as and when we hear that the venue and therefore the fishery is re-opened to fishing. We apologise for the inconvenience, but obviously we are living in difficult times at present.

I have attached an updated link from the Alice Holt website:

Forestry England update:

'Alice Holt is the place for exciting outdoor activities in a beautiful woodland setting.

All recreation facilities and activities at Alice Holt Forest are closed until further notice, including the toilets and the car park. The most important thing for Forestry England is to keep the public, our staff and volunteers safe.

Please carefully reconsider any plans you had to travel. We will keep monitoring the situation closely and follow the latest advice from Public Health England.

These are unprecedented times and our thoughts are with all those who've been affected by the coronavirus. We'd like to thank you for all your support - it means a lot to us.'

https://www.forestryengland.uk/alice-holt-forest

Please be aware that the Forestry Commission and Farnham Runners have organised this year's 10K Race for Saturday 5^th September 2015 at Alice Holt. As a result, Members may not use (unless in case of an emergency), the access track to or from the car park between 10.00am and 1.00pm on Saturday 5^th September 2015.

 The Executive Committee – August 2015