All posts by David Pottinger

BT Volunteers Help Out At The Pond

Conservation, Volunteering

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The BT Volunteer Team plus Rachel Jones (front right)

Rachel Jones, the Countryside Ranger, writes:

“Last Friday British Telecom (BT) came to Fleet Pond to help with the conservation work as part of their giving back to the community via volunteer work.

They worked especially hard clearing a large portion of the encroaching birch saplings off the rear heath land habitat. They enjoyed being out of the office and in the outdoors doing a valuable task!

Also Fleet Pond Society were working at incredible speed erecting the new Eastern Viewpoint platform. We all worked as one large team as some of the BT volunteers got stuck into digging out the new pathway to the view point in preparation for the surfacing that will go on top.

Ranger Rachel was very grateful for all their hard work despite the showers!”

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Hard at work on the pathway leading to the new viewpoint (see also here)

The New Viewing Platform Is Nearly Ready

Fund Raising, People, Volunteering, Walks

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The viewing platform from the side, showing it’s elevation

David Pottinger writes:

The work on creating the exciting new viewpoint at the eastern side of Fleet Pond has now almost been completed, as can be seen from the pictures above and below. If you are taking a walk around the Pond, you can read all about this fascinating project on the poster nearby.

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The poster that explains the interesting background to the viewpoint

This impressive project was thought up and implemented by Fleet Pond Society (FPS) and provides an excellent and major example of the work that we carry out for the benefit of the community (to join FPS, please see here).

On this topic, Colin Gray, Chairman of FPS, says:

“Very many thanks to all the volunteers who turned out on any or all of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week to erect the Lions View. A superb effort and an excellent result. Thank you all.”

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The viewing platform under construction (see here)

From a previous post, Colin explains:

“The new viewpoint will be built on the old embankment laid down by the army in the 19th century as a base for a very large jetty which stretched out into the pond to launch boat-based training exercises.

Early in the 20th century the jetty was demolished and another military use was made of the embankment …

The cost of the construction of the viewing platform, the decking and the access ramp and path are to be very generously met by a grant from Fleet Lions.

To recognise this it is proposed to place two marker posts boasting lions heads at the entrance to Lions Walk, a path and a long ramp, fully accessible by people with mobility aids, leading to the new viewpoint “De Havilland Viewpoint” in recognition of its historic link to the successful development of de Havilland aircraft that served us so well in WWII.”

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This is the view from the path around the Pond

A1904 RAE jetty 2

The previous jetty, from 1904 (see here)

Sunday 9 February – Mending Fences And Hot Potatoes

Conservation, Volunteering

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Enjoying a tasty hot potato at the end of the task

Rachel Jones, the Countryside Ranger, writes:

“Despite a VERY poor stormy forecast we still had a great turnout for the FPS Sunday! A few new people worked really hard and got stuck in as part of the team. We had 3 tasks going on so there was some choice.

The main task was clearing bramble and branches off the old fence line along the North Eastern track (see below). A fair lot of pine saplings were pulled up on the railway heath and more Eastern View point work was done by laying more sleepers.

A great fire burnt up from previously cut scrub, and the pine trees that the Fujitsu volunteer team had cleared were tractor and tailored over by Geoff and Carol with helpers, to pop on the fire.

Michael and David Buckler managed the fire and we all got hot spuds at the end (see above). Many thanks to Mavis Gray as well as to Terry’s portable oven!

A huge thanks to all involved and please remember to book in with me if you want to come on the next meeting (few days before at least, thanks).”

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Busy mending fences

Ed. The area that we worked on in January was completely waterlogged due to the downpours. It’s interesting to compare the before and after pictures (see below)!

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February (waterlogged)

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January (the same area)

The schedule for the coming Sunday volunteer events is:

  • 9th March
  • 13th April
  • 11th May
  • 8th June.

As there is a summer break, the start date for the next season is 14th September 2014.

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 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