[vimeo 96064846 w=500 h=281]
From the RSPB site (here):
“Nature is struggling, but if we all pull together and do small actions for wildlife in our garden and outdoor spaces, we can make a real difference. After all, if there’s no home for nature, there will be no nature.
Request your ‘Give Nature a Home’ guide packed full of simple, fun activities to help wildlife where you live. It’s free and available for download or free postal delivery.”
The direct link for ordering the guide is here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O0m_Y87JpM&w=560&h=315]
Take a look – the wildlife appears after the first minute of the video!
This interesting clip was made by a local photographer, John Sutton of Clearwater Photography UK (see also his Wildlife Portfolio on this site).
Michael Thompson talking to the Beavers (see halfway below)
Michael Thompson writes:
On a warm Saturday afternoon in September, Fleet Pond played host to the 8th annual visit of the 10th Farnborough Beaver Scouts. This year though things were a little bit different.
Fleet Pond Society Chairman Colin Gray and myself had laid on a few special treats as the 14 beavers and 17 supporting entourage went for a hike around the nature reserve. Everyone was given a walking stick to help them on their way, and off we went…
The afternoon began with a picnic lunch atop the recently constructed Lions’ View platform from where the Beavers could see just how far they were going to hike. Well fed and undeterred, we continued…
It’s surprising how many people can fit on the viewing platform when you pack them in like this
Before long we arrived at Boathouse Corner where some of the Beavers took time to appreciate the new benches installed the day before by the Fleet Pond Society Last of the Summer Wine volunteers:
While the children watched the ducks, Colin explained a little bit about the history of the pond (see picture below):
After a brief stop atop the bridge over the outflow to look out at the new islands, we arrived at the pond dipping platform:
Using nets, trays, magnifiers and identification charts provided by Fleet Pond Society, we set about seeing what we could find in the pond:
Water snail
Water scorpion
…and many more creatures that wouldn’t stay still long enough to be photographed.
Some of the locals even popped over to see what we were up to. Next came the 1.5km hike from one end of the reserve to the other. We looked at lots of different habitats on the way and spotted some interesting things:
Forest of fungi
As it was a warm day and the water level was low, it was safe to explore the Gelvert Stream at water level. I treated the beavers to a short lesson on navigating a watercourse safely:
Suddenly the walking sticks became really useful (as seen in the picture right at the top of this article). We set off on an adventure down the stream looking at how the water has formed the stream and the plants that grow along its banks on the way. We had agreed with the Rangers not to disturb the fish in the deeper parts, so we climbed out and watched them from the bank instead.
Once we reached the end of the stream, where it opens out into Sandy Bay, we had a bit of time left to play.
Everyone went for a paddle.
Building sand castles
Like all good Scouts they came prepared so everyone had dry clothes to go home in:
There will be a follow-on post to this one shortly, Part Two, that gives some additional photos plus very interesting feedback on the event from the Beavers and their Leaders. Keep an eye out for it!
David Pottinger writes:
There will be a volunteer event this Sunday, 2 November at Fleet Pond.
Why not come along for some fresh air and exercise, as well as having the nice feeling that you’re doing something really useful for the local community?
For further information and booking (which is essential as tools and resources have to be planned beforehand), please contact Hart Countryside Services:
Phone: 01252 623443
Email: countryside@hart.gov.uk
The next Sunday volunteer event will be on the 14th December 2014.
The tasks are supervised by Rachel Jones of Hart Countryside Rangers together with members of Fleet Pond Society.
To get a flavour of activities, photos from previous events can be found here.
David Pottinger writes:
From Get Hampshire (please see the article for full details):
The fascinating history of Fleet railway station is on display in the town’s library. Staged by Fleet and Crookham Local History Group, the display of pictures includes one of troops on the platform on their way to the Boer War in 1899. There is also a set of photographs taken during the recent demolition and rebuilding of the new-look station.
See also a previous blog post (from which the picture above is taken), especially the last two sentences!
The original station was named Fleetpond and located on the west of the current Fleet Road Bridge across the railway.
…
However, the amount of traffic at the station was so little that in 1858 there was a proposal to abolish the station completely although this never happened.
In 1854 the War Department had purchased Fleet Pond and much of the surrounding area as a training ground. A successful temporary training camp on nearby Chobham common in 1853, just prior to the Crimea War (1854-56) had led to the army looking for a permanent training site in the area. In 1897 the LSWR purchased a further area of land from the War Department to allow the widening of the line, construct the new station and a goods yard.
The new station at Fleet came into use in 1904. At the time the population in Fleet had grown to about 2,000 and the first local council had been formed in the same year. The council, generally formed of local businessmen appeared to have some regard to maintaining the rural nature of the area. It is perhaps with some irony that when the LSWR applied to build a works at Fleet the request was refused. Instead the LSWR would build their works at Eastleigh; this would become one of the world’s most famous locomotive works.
The Fleet station display is on the first floor of Fleet Library and runs until the end of November. Further details on the local history group (incl. future talks and how to join) can be found here.
In case you’re not familiar with the local geography, a map that illustrates the near proximity of the station to Fleet Pond can be found here. It’s worth noting that the new station car park allows some impressive views of the Pond (see below).
View of Fleet Pond from the upper floor of the new station car park