WORKS have begun on a project worth thousands of pounds to help military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Environment Agency, in partnership with iCarp, are renovating ‘Lifted Lakes’ near Harwich so the venue can be used to teach fishing to those with mental health issues.
While the owners of the lake withheld its address as the works are ongoing, the money is being used to fund treatment rooms, shower facilities and fishing platforms.
The venue is also intended to be used as a base for treatment and future mental health research.
The Environment Agency has invested more than £1.3million in projects over the past 12 months to enhance fisheries, boost fish stocks and make improvements for anglers, angling facilities and the environment.
Its fisheries teams in Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk were assigned more than £58,000 to deliver improvements which would benefit wildlife and anglers.
Ben Norrington, fisheries officer in Essex, said: "The project is in early stages but work is well underway with treatment rooms, toilets and lake restoration.
"Updates through the year will be documented and we hope to see people enjoying fishing here by autumn.
"We can reach out via angling to better people’s mental well-being."
More detail on how people can get involved will be shared here when it has been made available.
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