Meet at 7pm at Fleet Station pay & display car park next to the reserve. Join local bat expert Paul Hope and Ranger Joanna Lawrence on an evening bat walk to find out more about bats and which ones are using the pond after dark. If you have a bat detector please bring it with you, however, some will be provided. A torch may also be useful if you have one.

Duration: 1.5 hours. All abilities welcome.

Prices: Adults – £2 Children – £1 (Payable on the day)

For a write-up of a previous bat walk, please see here.

Please click on the image above for a larger version

We look forward to your entries!

For the results of the Fleet Pond Society Photographic Competition for 2009, please see here.

Fleet resident Richard Bennett was thrilled to have been named Fleet Young Person of the Year 2009, but disappointed that he was unable to carry out part of his prize, the switching on of the Christmas lights at the Fleet Festivities last November, as he was still at university.  However, his brother James proudly stepped up and switched on the lights on his brother’s behalf. Richard also won a £100 Outdoor Adventure voucher, an engraved glass trophy and a certificate recording his award.

Joanna Lawrence, the Fleet Pond Ranger, writes:

Hart District Councils Countryside Service has recently purchased 3 new fishing jetties for Fleet Pond.  These have replaced 2 of the small old jetties on the northern side of the Pond which have deteriorated over the years.  The third has replaced the larger jetty at Chestnut Grove.

They were installed by local contractors JDB, and are made from recycled plastic which lasts much longer than wood/metal, and is also vandal proof.  There is also the small jetty next to Carnival Bridge which will be replaced in the not too distant future with the same materials.

Products made from recycled plastics have become widely available over the last few years, with many products including benches, boardwalks, signs and fences being used widely on countryside sites.

The jetties are used by many people at Fleet Pond; fishermen, children feeding ducks, birdwatchers, and people who just like to stop and admire to views of Hampshire’s largest freshwater lake.

This event will be the first one for the 2010/11 period – the schedule up to the end of 2010 is available here which also contains meeting and contact details.

We’re a very friendly bunch and we’re always keen to receive new volunteers, including students on the Duke of Edinburgh and Trident schemes!

Examples of previous volunteer events can be found by using the search facility on the top rhs of this blog.