Category Archives: Conservation

Birds Seen At Fleet Pond (1970 To 2012)

Conservation, Plants and Animals

Fleet Pond Birds 70-12

Example: Page 1 Of The Bird Checklist

David Pottinger writes:

William Legge of Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS) has kindly prepared a (very impressive) checklist of birds that have been seen at Fleet Pond during the period 1970 – 2012.

The survey covers a very long period of time and unfortunately many of the species have not been seen in recent years. However it is hoped that our exciting pond restoration work will bring some of these back!

The full document can be downloaded here.

Information on a recent bird walk at Fleet Pond, lead by Peter Hutchins of RSPB (Basingstoke), can be found here.

FPS Conservation Sundays – Why Not Come Along?

Conservation, Volunteering

Cathy Holden writes:

Volunteers are always welcome to join our monthly Sunday working parties at the Pond.

We assemble at the Countryside Workshop, Old Pump House Close, (off Kenilworth Road) Fleet, around 9.00am to start work at 9.15 am

Tasks usually stop around 1.30pm but we can continue after lunch if enough volunteers decide to stay.

Please ensure you wear warm, old clothing which is likely to become wet and muddy. Take care when walking over the soils as there can be hidden stumps and deep holes in the marsh.

Our tools are very sharp so use great care when carrying and using them. Please do not hang bowsaws on stumps or trees where a passing volunteer can walk into them. Training and correct use of tools is always given before a task is started. It is important that when using tools youngsters under twelve are supervised by an adult. We ask parents to accompany the under 12s to all working sessions please.

We supply a warm drink and the famous delicious homebaked energy-cakes mid-morning. All tools are supplied and we have a stock of wellington boots and protective gloves if you do not have your own.

For more information please contact Task Co-ordinator Colin Gray as follows:

Colin Gray, 14 Kenilworth Road, Fleet, Hampshire GU51 3DA Tel: 01252 616183
E-mail: colin.gray@talktalk.net

Here is the schedule for January – June 2013 (click to enlarge).

Volunteering 2013Click To Enlarge

Another Tern For Fleet Pond

Conservation, Plants and Animals

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The Common Tern is the beneficiary of recent work carried out on one of the new islands in the middle of Fleet Pond. Volunteers from Fleet Pond Society worked together with Hart Countryside Rangers (see above and below) to cover the central island with gravel paid for with funds raised through the Society’s ‘Clearwater Campaign’.

Common Terns like to nest in bare scrapes on flat, poorly vegetated islands. This makes the eggs and young vulnerable to predation by mammals such as rats and mink as well as large birds including gulls, owls and herons. It is hoped that their speckled eggs will be well camouflaged against the gravel, with protection for the chicks provided by the low level roofing tile hideaways. Fencing has been placed round the island to stop mink accessing it.

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Fleet Pond Ranger, Louise Greenwood (pictured below) stated her hopes for the newly covered island: ‘In the summer of 2012 seven pairs of Terns nested on this new island but unfortunately none of them fledged as they were predated. By providing this gravel topping and the hideaways we hope that next year we will have a new colony of Terns on Fleet Pond.’

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Colin Gray, Chairman of Fleet Pond Society, said: ‘We would like to thank the company, W M Longreach, for kindly transporting the gravel over to the island for us. It is a very exciting project to have spent some campaign funds on.  In fact we named the island ‘Clearwater’ and if you look closely you might be able to see the flag we planted with the ‘Clearwater Campaign’ logo on.’

Important – Consultation On Amenities At Fleet Pond

Conservation

Hart District Council have recently prepared, with the help of an independent researcher, a ‘Fleet Pond Customer Needs Report’. The Steering Group for this report includes the Environment Agency, Fleet Pond Society (FPS), Hart District Council, and Natural England.

The objectives of this report are:

  • To identify areas of potential improvements to the visitor experience (at Fleet Pond)
  • To produce designs and visualisations of potential improvements
  • To provide cost estimates against improvements and components
  • To invite comment on these ideas, and submission of others.

Some of the ideas for improvements to the amenities suggested by the consultants for Fleet Pond are radical departures from the current situation, which FPS feels are inappropriate for a nature reserve. Consequently FPS encourages all interested readers to read through this document and to respond to Hart with their own views.

Any decisions made may have a lasting consequence so now is the time to raise any issues you may have.

Hard copies of the report will be available to the public in Fleet Library and the Fleet Civic Offices from 7th December. It is also available for download here.

The consultation will take place from 7th December 2012 to 20th January 2013.

Hart District Council will analyse all responses to this report and, taking these views into account, then create a visitor strategy for Fleet Pond Nature Reserve covering the next few years.

You can respond to the consultation by emailing: countryside@hart.gov.uk

Alternatively you can post your responses to:

Fleet Pond Visitor Strategy Consultation,
Leisure and Environmental Promotion
Civic Offices, Harlington Way,
Fleet, Hampshire, GU51 4AE

Hart would be grateful if you could highlight the paragraph or page that you are referring to in order for them to see your comments in context.

If you would like to discuss any of the matters raised with FPS directly, prior to responding, please contact the FPS Chairman, Colin Gray, who would be delighted to hear your views and comments.

Contact details: phone 01252 616183 or email Colin Gray.

Sunday Volunteer Task – 9 December 2012

Conservation, Volunteering

Colin Gray writes:

“The task for Sunday 9h December will be dependent on water levels but if there is no heavy rain before Sunday we will be working in the Northern (or Hemelite) Reedbed. There are more alder and sallow saplings around the edges of the reedbed to remove and a lot of cut reed to burn. Again the weather will dictate if a fire is possible.

We need a northerly, westerly or north westerly wind to carry the smoke across the pond. A southerly or south-easterly wind would carry smoke over the railway line which would be a danger to trains and very unpleasant to passengers on Fleet Station. If all the weather signs are in our favour a good fire will give us the opportunity to bake a few potatoes.

So please keep fingers and toes crossed for favourable weather!”

Meeting arrangements:

We meet at the Countryside Workshop, Old Pump House Close (next to 65 Kenilworth Road) at 9.00 a.m. for a 9.15 start. Signposted directions to the site are available if anyone comes late.

Volunteers will need old clothing, waterproof if rain is expected, protective gloves and wellington boots (we have a supply of gloves and boots if you do not own these).

Current volunteers comprise a wide range of ages of both genders. 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.

Further details are available from:

Task Co-ordinator:
Colin Gray at 01252 616183 or colin@fleetpondsociety.co.uk
or
Task Leader:
David Buckler at 01252 521282 or david.buckler@talktalk.net