Fleet Pond Wildlife Open Day A Sunny Success

Conservation, Education, People
Dipping Platform Opening Ceremony
Dipping Platform Opening Ceremony

Cathy Holden writes:

The sun beamed down on the Fleet Pond Wildlife Open Day as families enjoyed the multitude of activities and walks on offer. These ranged from guided insect walks, to demonstrations of chainsaw artwork – with the chance to part-take of delicious refreshments provided by Odiham Scouts.

Fleet Pond Fish
Fleet Pond Fish

The new dipping platform, sponsored by the Fleet Townswomen’s Guild, and built by volunteers from the Fleet Pond Society was a roaring success.  The platform was officially opened by ladies from the Guild, and for the rest of the day there was a constant stream of adults and children dipping the provided nets into the waters of The Flash.

Dipping Platform in use
Dipping Platform in use

Congratulations to Fleet Pond Ranger, Louise Greenwood, and her colleagues at Hart Countryside Services for organising such a great day – including the weather!

Photo credits: Cathy Holden

Fleet Pond Wildlife Day this Sunday!

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Fleet Pond Wildlife Day Poster May 2013

There are lots of exciting activities planned for the Fleet Pond Wildlife Day on Sunday 26th May. This free event is open from 10am till 2pm, so drop in anytime!

Fun things to do will include:

  • learning about the amazing wildlife on a guided walk
  • running around and getting messy with games and crafts
  • take a look through telescopes at the Tern island
  • try your hand at pond dipping with the Fleet Pond Society
  • watch the fantastic art of chainsaw carving
  • or sit and have a cup of tea and cake with the Odiham Scouts

In addition, there will be lots of stalls with interesting things to see and do, so why not pop in and try something new?

Find us at Boathouse Corner, which will be signposted from the Main Fleet Pond Car Park and Fleet Train Station.

May Wildflower Watch – Wood Sorrel

Plants and Animals
Wood sorrel along Gelvert Steam by Sandy Bay
Wood sorrel along Gelvert Steam by Sandy Bay

Michelle Salter writes:

Like many other plants, the flowers of Wood sorrel have been late in making an appearance this year. But they are worth the wait, and the pretty white flowers and clover-shaped leaves are currently on display in large clumps alongside the footpath leading to Sandy Bay.

In 2009, I wrote a post called Wood Sorrel, the Easter flower and in that year the flowers bloomed in early April, which would be the usual time to see them blossom.

Wood sorrel is a joy to photograph in indirect sunlight as the flowers open up to reveal five purple-veined white petals. The flowers close as light fades and the distinctive three-part leaves, which open out flat during the day, fold up on themselves at night.

Wood sorrel is a shade-loving plant and can grow in locations that have only one percent daylight.

Wood sorrel on Gelvert Stream bank
Wood sorrel on Gelvert Stream bank

Photo credits: Michelle Salter

Gone Fishing

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Rick Martin with Matt and Luke (and pike!)

Michelle Salter writes:

On Sunday afternoon, whilst work progressed on the pond dipping platform, there was excitement at the nearby fishing jetty.

Young fisherman, Luke Martin, hauled in a whopping 7½ lb pike from the murky depths of the pond.

We know there are large pike in Fleet Pond, as a visit from the Fisheries Team of the Environment Agency proved – more of which can be found here. And, of course, there was also the recent sad demise of the famous one-eyed pike.

Fleet Pond welcomes responsible fisherman, but asks they take care to remove any discarded fishing line from the pond. This article shows the danger fishing line poses to wildlife.

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Ready to be weighed before going back into the pond

Photo credits: Michelle Salter