Enjoying some baked potatoes at a previous volunteer event

There will be a volunteer event at Fleet Pond this coming Sunday and all are welcome to attend (see below for registering).

Colin Gray, Chairman of Fleet Pond Society, writes:

“There is a lot of cut material that needs to be burned waiting for us on Fugelmere Marsh. That will be our main task for the day. This means that baked potatoes are on the menu and I will obtain these early in the week. There will also be some cutting to do of alder and the new hedge needs a trim. So it could be a busy morning.

The soil conditions should be firm but wet so waterproof boots will probably be OK rather than wellies.

As usual a warm drink will be provided mid-morning but if you need a cold drink please bring your own.”

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.

Details of the programme from September 2015 to March 2016 can be found here.

Why not give it a go?

The results from last year’s competition can be found here.

Rachel Jones, Hart Countryside Ranger, informs us that:

“Access to Chestnut Grove will be closed for 2 weeks for essential maintenance works. Please see the map here for the location (see lhs).

There will be strictly no access between the Brookly footpath and Chestnut Grove whilst the boardwalk is replaced.

There will be heavy machinery in the area. 

Please adhere to contractors signs and find a new temporary route around the road sides to avoid this area.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused and hope you will appreciate the need for a new boardwalk to ensure your future safety and enjoyment of Fleet Pond LNR.

Works begin Monday 24th August until 7th September.”

The Angkor Wat Temple Complex in Cambodia

Mandy Saxby, a Committee Member of Fleet Pond Society (FPS), writes:

“In November, I will be trekking in Cambodia to raise funds for Fleet Pond Society’s Clearwater Campaign. I will be walking about 20 kilometers a day for 6 days, through forests, paddy fields and up a small mountain.

This will be with a small party of others who will be raising money for their own chosen charities. We start at Siem Reap and walk in a big loop that brings us to our destination of Angkor Wat, somewhere I have always wanted to visit.

Why Fleet Pond Society? I can remember walking round the Pond as a small child and I am now a regular volunteer and committee member. The volunteering started when I responded to the Chairmans’ appeal for someone to take over the dipwell readings.

Dipwells are small plastic tubes with holes all the way up, pushed into the ground, that allow water to collect in so that a water level can be taken. I thought that sounded like something I could do easily and quickly (there are only 9 of them) so offered my services. In fact these dipwells are placed in the centres of some very unfriendly spots in the middle of marshes but I’m still doing it 12 years on!”

If you would like to support Mandy on her trek, which will raise funds for FPS’s Clearwater Campaign, please go to her page on Virgin Money Giving.

PS You can read more about the serious and fun aspects of dealing with the dipwells at Fleet Pond here and here.

Angkor Wat – An Impressive Aerial View

Picture credit: Wikipedia