The conservation event for Sunday 11 March was held at the Dry Heath and focused on cutting down saplings (bottom photo) and then burning them.

Whilst doing this, an area full of very large ant nests was found (above). Colin Gray has previously written an interesting article on the Southern Wood Ant at the pond.

As I’ve remarked in previous posts, it’s fascinating to find out the background and recent activities of some of the volunteers at our Sunday events. It’s much wider than you might expect!

For instance, Alex Bandiera, who’s been with us for about a year now, is an Air Cadet – see also here.

Alex Bandiera

In February of this year Alex and some of his colleagues went to Tanzania for a safari and a hike up Mount Kilimanjaro. This is Africa’s highest mountain (over 19,000 feet above sea level) and is also a dormant volcano. It’s well-known to be a tough climb and many fail – however I’m happy to say that Alex got to the top and has the T-shirt to prove it!

However just to reassure you that it’s not all chat at our events, and as mentioned previously, there’s a picture of the volunteers in action below!

As you can see, we’re a very friendly bunch, and if you feel like joining us on a Sunday volunteer event you’d be very welcome.

The next event is this coming Sunday, 8 April.

General details of these volunteer events are available here.

Here’s some further information on the walks at Fleet Pond

Guides and Scouts unite for a Community Challenge for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee!

Thousands of Scouts and Guides from across Hampshire have come together to work on community projects to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. As part of their promise to serve The Queen and country, both organisations are reaching out to help their local neighbourhoods between 6th February and 30th June. Activities could range from litter picking, providing food and shelter to the homeless, revamping skate parks, preserving the area’s wildlife, and much more.

29^th Odiham Scouts and 7^th Fleet Guides join Fleet Pond Society in their Conservation Work

Tracy Betteridge, a Guide Leader with the 7th Fleet Guides, writes:

It was -1^oC (on the 12th February) when 30 representatives of 7th Fleet Guides and 29th Odiham Scouts (plus 12 parents) arrived at Fleet Pond to assist Fleet Pond Society in their conservation work.  The plan had been to clear birch seedlings from the Dry Heath area – a mixture of digging out the smaller roots and cutting the bigger ones with loppers and bowsaws.  After a week of freezing temperatures, however, the ground was solid and digging was not an option.  Not to be deterred, the volunteers set to work cutting down the seedlings.  A large fire was soon underway, fed by the seedlings cut down by the eager volunteers.

“A chilly morning was filled with log chopping with saws – it was the first time I used a saw on my own! A great fun way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday morning,” enthused Laura C of 7^th Fleet Guides.

“Not only was it great fun, but we were helping preserve the heathland for visitors and the wildlife,” said Nick B of 29^th Odiham Scouts.

Jessica D. of 7^th Fleet Guides commented, “It was fun to try the saw out and cut down the saplings. We had to be careful cutting down the right saplings and trees, the birch. We worked in a big team and were helping to keep Fleet pond nice for people to walk around and visit.”

In case you’d like further information on these organisations, please see Girlguiding in Hampshire North and Hampshire Scouts.

Silt Sampling Near Kenilworth Jetty – Tricky Progress!

Last Wednesday, Genevieve Madgwick and Cressida Wheelwright of Natural England (NE) visited Fleet Pond to look at the progress made on the Restoration Project. This included taking some initial core samples to see what the silt comprised of in terms of soil types. At this stage Genevieve did not take any samples away, rather she examined them by eye on site.

Also present were; Steve Lyons and Louise Greenwood (Hart Countryside Services), John Sutton and Alex Hazel (Environment Agency), Becky Lemon and a PhD student (Johns Associates), and Colin Gray (Fleet Pond Society).  Damian McGettrick of WM Longreach, who are the chosen contractors for the project, also joined in for part of the tour.

Sampling The Silt Near Sandy Bay

Genevieve and Cressida also saw the clearance of the marshes whilst at the pond and were very supportive of the overall progress made.

The marsh restoration work has been made possible as a result of funds obtained by NE under a Higher Level Stewardship agreement with Hart Council – please see here for further details.

Photo credits: John Sutton.

Colin Gray writes:

“We will be up on the Dry Heath again but this time over the northern side by the path down towards Boathouse Corner.  There is an area of gravel (a previous hoggin dump) by two pine trees just where the path leaves the heath and heads down to the pond.  We can have our fire on the gravel away from the heath but close enough for carrying cut material.”

Hope to see you there and all new volunteers are very welcome!

Further information on the Sunday volunteer tasks (including where to meet etc) is available here.