[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXPLbcsDOJQ&w=560&h=315]
I recently came across the video above, it gives a good account of the calming benefits of a nature reserve. We’re so lucky to have one right on our doorstep!
If you would like to support Fleet Pond Society in helping maintain and preserve the Pond, please consider giving a donation (see here for details). It would really be appreciated!
An expansion on the interesting text that accompanies the video above can be found here.
For interest, here is a selection of photos taken at a recent bird ringing exercise at the Pond which give a good flavour of the activity.
From the RSPB:
Wild birds have been ringed for just over a hundred years in many countries across the world. Currently, over 800,000 birds are ringed in Britain and Ireland each year, of which over 13,000 are subsequently found or recaptured away from where they were first caught. Many more are recaptured locally to where they were ringed.
Bird ringing in the UK is carried out by ringers licensed by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) on behalf of the statutory conservation agencies (Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage, Countryside Council for Wales and Environment and Heritage Service Northern Ireland). It involves catching a wild bird and fitting a light silver-coloured metal ring of a correct size on its leg. The ring carries a unique number, by which the bird can be identified later if it is caught or found again, and a reference to the British Museum, London. This is used as a postal address for ring recoveries because it is internationally well known.
Download and read this RSPB document (pdf) for further information.
For a previous article on bird ringing at the Pond, please see here.
There will be a volunteer event at Fleet Pond this coming Sunday and all are welcome (see below for registering).
Colin Gray, Chairman of Fleet Pond Society, writes:
“Ranger Rachel has set the task for Sunday as a Bamboo Bash along the Brookly Stream. Some of you will need wellington boots but access via dry land is available for the less adventurous volunteers.”
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 Sunday volunteer tasks are supervised by a Hart Countryside Ranger together with members of Fleet Pond Society.
David Pottinger writes:
There will be a volunteer event this Sunday, 8 March 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?
Colin Gray, Chairman of FPS, writes:
“Ranger Rachel has designated stream bank repairs along the Gelvert Stream as the task for 8th March. Those of you with wellies, please wear them as some splashing about in the stream will be required. There will be drier on-bank tasks as well if you do not have wellies.”
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 tasks are supervised by a Hart Countryside Ranger together with members of Fleet Pond Society (FPS).
To get a flavour of our activities, here are some photos from the previous Sunday volunteer event, held on 8 February. As you can see, these events are good fun and quite popular!
Picture credits: Carol Dunford
Fleet Pond is both a Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (an overview and map is here). The latter has important implications, in particular the avoidance of the introduction of alien species.
Colin Gray, Chairman of Fleet Pond Society, explains and give some examples of the importance of not introducing non-native plants or animals:
“Fleet Pond is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The legislation that notifies a SSSI includes the protection of native plants and animals naturally found on the site. These regulations have been incorporated into the by-laws governing Fleet Pond.
Any non-native plant or animal poses a threat to the survival of the native species. There are already examples of how non-native species are having an adverse effect. The American Skunk Cabbage that grew in abundance in the wet area of Brookly Wood has spread its seeds via the Brookly Stream and can now be found at numerous sites around the water edges. The large, thick leaves shade light off smaller, less vigorous plants.
Picture of Skunk Cabbage at the Pond – see here
Rhododendron and Cherry Laurel, both “aliens” are competing successfully with native species in the wooded areas. These tend to be introduced by roots spreading out and by birds carrying the seed. Seed of Red Currant and Cotoneaster have also led to these plants now appearing at several sites.
Most of the above is as a result of being close to private gardens containing these plants and cannot be considered “deliberate” introduction of non-natives.
Introduction of animals or birds is also illegal under this legislation. Sadly we cannot take the animal rights group to court for releasing Mink from fur farms; too distant in time and space, but this has led to a non-native animal having a serious adverse impact on our birds and small mammals. Similarly the introduction of the American Signal Crayfish is a result of a serious mistake elsewhere.
A couple of years ago I stopped two people carrying a large plastic bag containing goldfish. They were planning to put them in Fleet Pond. I explained that such an act was illegal and likely to attract a high fine and they changed their minds and drove away. The fact that a goldfish would be very unlikely to survive long as they are so easy to spot by our fish eating birds meant their chance of survival was low, but goldfish can carry virus or parasites that would be transferred to the carp in the pond.
Introducing plants or animals deliberately must be avoided if the integrity of Fleet Pond’s SSSI notification is to be maintained. There are therefore potentially high financial penalties for anyone found to be introducing a non-native plant or animal.
Recently we found two small “pits” cut into a bank on the Dry Heath and hidden by the gorse thickets there. These had been surrounded by chicken wire, filled with fresh soil and planted with unidentified seeds. Had we caught the culprit the fine imposed could have been high and, in some cases, the penalty can be levied per plant. This attempt at introducing plants has been removed but we will need to keep our eyes open to ensure another attempt is not made.
Please let us know should you see anyone planting plants or trees or releasing any animal or warn them of the consequences of their action.”
From the GOV.UK site:
Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) conserve and protect the best of our wildlife, geological and physiographical heritage for the benefit of present and future generations. There are over 4,000 SSSIs in England, covering around 8% of the country.
