Gloucester Park is a superb two hundred and fifty acre park owned by Basildon District Council.  Its centre-piece is the picturesque seven acre Gloucester Park Lake, also owned by Basildon District Council, but managed under licence by Mick Toomer since 1993.

Under Micks management the fishery has been transformed from a run of the mill park lake with an “urban park” reputation, to a top class fishery widely recognised as one of the countries premier day ticket venues.

The lake was dug out in the 1960’s when an existing watercourse was made wider and deeper.  Two bays were dug out on the southern side, leaving a two acre island.

Along with the rest of the park the lake has now matured with mown grass banks, rushes, reeds and Iris’s, plus a wealth of overhanging willows.  The greenery around the lake can clearly be seen on the aerial photograph, taken by Mick whilst hanging out of a light aircraft, (don’t ask!).

The foliage provides features to fish to, with the willows pruned in an angler friendly manner.  The willows growing on the banks are particularly useful to pole and waggler anglers on sunny days, whilst those on the island offer valuable features to quivertip and carp anglers.  On the north side of the island the bank is undercut below the water.  This undercut is particularly attractive to the chub and the carp.