This short video of Southampton University Conservation Volunteers shows what this hardworking team did when they spent a weekend at Fleet Pond.
We’re grateful to them for their time. By clearing the islands of invasive scrub, we can help more valuable plants grow.
Improving our islands – this short video shows how we’ve recently started to get to grips with a longstanding issue at Fleet Pond.
Many of the 21 islands created by the lake restoration project, which commenced in 2012, have developed vegetation.
However, some of the islands have remained barren in terms of aquatic plants, due to grazing by geese and the soft, mobile silt bed.
Working in collaboration with Hart Countryside Service, our plan is to use bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliate) to form a buffer zone within the islands and create conditions conducive to colonisation by other aquatic plants once prolific at Fleet Pond.
Bogbean is a robust native plant that forms floating mats. It was originally introduced to Fleet Pond to protect the margins of reedbeds from overgrazing by Canada geese. It’s done a great job, and the once declining reedbeds are now in a much better condition.
We’re transferring bogbean from areas such as Hemelite Bay, where it’s abundant, to islands on the north east corner of the lake. The trials will be monitored, and progress reported.
Bogbean provides habitats for a range of aquatic invertebrates, including dragonflies whose larvae use the stems to climb out of the water.
We’ve set up a Fleet Pond Society channel on YouTube that features a range of short videos showing the work we do at the Pond.
To subscribe to the channel just search for Fleet Pond Society on YouTube. We can only get a customised URL if we have 100 subscribers. Thank you!
Our AGM will take place on Saturday 16th February from 19.15, at the St. P & J Church Hall, Kings Road Fleet.
All members are encouraged to attend. This is your opportunity to put questions to the Executive Committee and share your views on the future of Fleet Pond Local Nature Reserve.
Nominations are requested for the election of Officers and Members to the Executive Committee. Please email your nominations to: secretary@fleetpond.org.uk
Following the official business of the AGM, there will be a short break for refreshments before we announce the winners of the Photographic Competition 2018. We hope everyone who has entered will come along to see their photographs on display.
Our task for Sunday 10th February is some more scrub clearance, this time on Fugelmere Marsh, close to Sandy Bay Bridge. There is a large pile of previously cut material to burn so, weather permitting, baked potatoes will be on the menu.
As usual please assemble at the Countryside Workshop, Old Pump House Close, Fleet, GU51 3DN at 9.00 a.m. for a 9.15 start. Please park in Kenilworth Road as parking very limited at the workshop. Wellington boots or waterproof boots recommended as the soil will be wet and muddy. We have some protective gloves and all tools are provided.
A warm drink is available mid-morning but bring your own water if needed. The weather forecast is reasonable at the moment but this can of course change.
Let us know if you are coming to ensure we load enough tools. Phone: 01252 623443 Email: countryside@hart.gov.uk
