Shirkoak Farm Fishery

My name is Hugh Pickett and I am married to Sarah, we have two daughters Chloe and Phoebe and have moved to Shirkoak from Chartham, nr Canterbury.

I have been a passionate angler all my life and in 2002 we were lucky enough to purchase a derelict barn in France with a small lake. We converted this into a successful fishing holiday business – Willow lake France. A few years later we purchased another lake and house –Firs lake, which we have since sold.  I am very proud of our achievements in France and have enjoyed turning a small 2 acre lake into a prestigious carp fishery with carp to over 50lb and cats to over 100lb.  I am up for the exciting challenge of turning Shirkoak into the thriving fishery it deserves to be.

Four years ago we purchased two small irrigation ponds on Bethersden road. They were very overgrown and completely silted up with very little fish stock. We have desilted and enlarged these ponds and turned them into a small fishing syndicate.

I am a chef by trade and have run a successful outside catering business for 35 years, specialising in weddings. We are hoping to incorporate wedding packages at Shirkoak farm – the ultimate ‘Fishermans wedding venue’

I am looking forward to meeting you all and value your ideas and suggestions. Shirkoak farm is a beautiful place to live and I hope we will have many happy years here.