Reading school kids invited to join the fishy fun at Theale

The Countryside Alliance's Fishing 4 Schools programme is coming to the Sportfish Centre in Theale on 7 October for a schools' open day and is inviting local pupils to take part in the fun.

During the event, which runs from 10am-2pm, youngsters will be split into groups and participate in the following activities:
• Fly tying
• Float making
• Fly casting and fly fishing
• Pole fishing
• Cookery demo/fish biology
• Knots
• Aquatic fauna and microbiology workshop - entomology
• Wildlife search/nature walk.

The activities will be delivered by Sport England Level 2 (fishing) coaches and are tailored to fit the National Curriculum.

We also hope to have a chef on hand to help the children cook their catch and there will be a competition to see whether fly fishing or spin fishing is more successful.

Fishing 4 Schools is a charity that introduces angling and other types of fishing to children who have not had the opportunity to try the sport before.

Director of the programme and award-wining angler Charles Jardine said: ""Fishing 4 Schools is so important. It puts fun back into the classroom and shows children the importance of what they learn at school in daily life – if they want to shot a float they need to know about weights and measures. They learn about the plants, insects and animals that live by the river or pond. It gives them a reason to study and sets them up with a recreational activity for life."

Schools in the Reading area who would like to take part in the Schools Open Day at or to learn more about Fishing 4 Schools are asked to contact Catrin Robinson on 0207 8409212.

Note for journalists
Local media are very welcome to attend Sportfish on 7 October – we will have children from local schools taking part on the day but as yet do not know which. We can confirm closer to the date.
Please let me know if you would like to come along.

You can find information about F4S at http://www.countryside-alliance.org/ca/campaigns-fishing

For more information, contact Countryside Alliance head of media Charlotte Cooper on 0207 840 9220 or email [email protected]