Heather the Leather facts for kids

Heather the Leather was a very famous fish in Britain. She was a special type of carp known as a "leather carp" because she had almost no scales. Heather was a really big and old fish, weighing about 52 pounds (24 kg)! She was known as "Britain's most famous fish" because many people wanted to catch her.

Heather the Leather: Britain's Famous Carp

Heather was born around 1960 and lived for about 50 years. She was one of the oldest and largest carp in the country. Many fishermen, called anglers, dreamed of catching her. They considered her the ultimate fish to catch because of her age, long history, and how tricky she was to find.

What Made Heather So Special?

Heather was unique because she was a "scaleless" or "leather" carp. This meant she had very few scales, making her skin look smooth like leather. She was also incredibly large and old, which made her a legendary fish among anglers. Even though some stories said she was caught over 1,000 times, she was actually caught by fishermen about 75 times. Anglers at Yateley Complex kept careful records of her captures.

Heather's Amazing Life

Heather lived a long life, reaching about 50 years old. By the time she passed away, she was considered very valuable, worth around £30,000. She spent her life in a lake at the Yateley Complex, a well-known fishing spot.

Her Final Resting Place

On June 1, 2010, Heather was found dead at the edge of the lake. It is believed she died simply from old age. The anglers who loved and respected her decided to give her a special burial. They buried her near the lake and placed a small headstone and a memorial rosebush to remember her.