Michelle Salter writes:

Staff at Dimension Data rose to the challenge of a 12 hour fun relay around Fleet Pond and raised £1000 for the Clearwater Campaign.

The Refresh Fleet Pond initiative was organized to celebrate Dimension Data’s own brand refresh and environmentally friendly outlook and all the relay runners and walkers wore t-shirts featuring the new ‘green’ company logo.

Kicking-off at 7am on Tuesday 10^th May, a continuous stream of walkers and runners circuited the pond on a hot, sunny day for 12 hours, with fifty Dimension Data employees handing over the green baton at the end of each lap.

Far from being tired, many participants offered to go round again and the event finished on a high at 7pm, with nearly £500 raised from the day’s raffle and collection buckets, as well as online donations.

The company has since generously offered to match this sum, so the total amount raised is now £1000! 🙂 

As one member of staff remarked, “Coming together to raise funds to save the pond has made me appreciate how lucky we are to have such a beautiful nature reserve on our doorstep.”

Colin Gray, Chairman of Fleet Pond Society, commented, “I would like to thank all the staff at Dimension Data for their generous response in organising and taking part in this event and to extend my gratitude to the management of Dimension Data for kindly agreeing to match the amount raised. 

The Clearwater Campaign aims to raise enough money to meet the cost of all the preparation work that is required to support a bid for lottery funding and sponsorship for a Restoration Programme. If all the component projects of the Programme are supported, and completed, over a period of years, the total cost is likely to be in excess of £2million. Support from companies, such as Dimension Data, takes us a step further in achieving the objective of having preparation funding available.”

If you would like to support the Refresh Fleet Pond initiative by making a donation, please go to:

http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/dimensiondatarelay

A Holly Blue

Peter Martin writes:

I hope you find the “Butterfly of the Month” articles for April to September interesting. The hot and sunny weather we have had so far this spring has resulted in earlier than usual sightings of a number of butterfly species.

My first Brimstone was seen on 24th February, a Small  Tortoiseshell on 23rd March, a Small White on 4th April, an Orange Tip on the 6th, a Holly Blue on the 8th and a Comma and Large White on the 19th April.

This must be an Orange Tip year, as I cannot recollect having seen so many during the past fortnight in any year previously.  I have even had one lay an egg on an Honesty plant in our garden.  Although very small, the egg is lenticular in shape and an orange colour, which made it easy to spot.

Keep a watchful eye open for these and other butterflies whilst walking around Fleet Pond.

Picture credit: UK Butterflies

Musings on Fleet Pond from a chocolate labrador – see here🙂

Cathy Holden writes:

You weave the willow branch in and the willow branch out……..

No, it was not a green version of the ‘Hokey Kokey’ it was the instructions given to the team at Sunday’s conservation work party. This month the regular team’s ranks were swelled by the girls and leaders of the 4th Cove Guides.

The task was to repair some breaches along the bank of the Gelvert Stream using woven willow supports. The whole team threw themselves enthusiastically into the task.

First, make holes in the stream bed ready for the poles. Then bang in the poles.

Weave the willow branches in and out of the poles.

Tons of sand was required to fill the breaches behind the woven willow supports. The shovelling team really put their backs into the job.

It takes a large number of willow branches to weave into those gaps.

Nearly done!  Just checking those branches.

A pretty good job—should protect the banks for quite a while.

Might as well clear the stream of large logs while we’re at it!

If you enjoy fresh air, rolling your sleeves up and working outside, why not come along and join us? We are a friendly bunch and meet on the second Sunday of the month; further details are available, for example, here.

Editor: Apologies, I’m a little late in posting this one!