The Incriminating Bamboo!

Photographer Of the Year – Richard Bebb

Runner-Up – David Thompson

Sue Dee writes:

The results of this year’s FPS photography competition were announced at the Annual General Meeting on Saturday 19th February and the Rose Bowl was awarded to Richard Bebb. The standard of entries was very high and the judge, Terry Chapman, had a very difficult task in selecting winners.

Here are the results (click on each photo for a larger version):

Photographer Of the Year – Richard Bebb

Runner-Up – David Thompson

Highly Commended – Barry Stevens

Highly Commended – Martin Durrant

Highly Commended – Peter Bebb

Congratulations to the winners and a big thank you to all who submitted entries.

Many thanks must go to Terry Chapman for giving up his time to both judge the competition and to come to present the prizes.

Terry has lived and worked as a photographer in the area for over 50 years. He began his talk by showing a photograph of him rowing on Fleet Pond in 1953!

Further information on the competition can be found here and pictures from previous competitions (2005 – 2010) can be found under Pictures here.

Highly Commended – Barry Stevens

Highly Commended – Martin Durrant

Highly Commended – Peter Bebb

The Mid-Morning Break!

Jim Storey, of FPS and Fleet Lions, writes:

Sunday 13 February saw us return to Fugelmere Marsh for more scrub clearance. It was soggy in the air and underfoot! We had a few members of Fleet Lions join us.

Caroleanne Baker was there with some members of her family (pictured above). “It’s such a friendly atmosphere at the conservation tasks, “said Caroleanne. “A good way to keep fit and such a worthy cause to be part of. Fantastic to get out here with our family. I love it.”

Simon Collen commented “I just love cutting things down and setting fire to them! It’s so rewarding when you see what you have achieved at the end of all that hard work.” His Dad Mike, a member of Fleet Lions, added “I used to do this sort of thing as a child, so fond memories for me. We always learn lots about the Pond that we can tell our friends when we bring them here.  I really enjoy meeting other people from our local community.”

David Walker (pictured above) has only just joined FPS. “It’s great to be able to help out on conservation work. Particularly when it will make it even better for me to observe our feathered friends that hang out around here. It’s important that we improve the habitats at the Pond, not just for the wildlife, but so people can enjoy them more too”.

Mandy Saxby is a real old hand at conservation tasks. “I had a feeling we’d get soaked today but it’s good exercise and company – apart from one of the Lions!”

“I think Mandy means me” said Jim Storey (our intrepid reporter today…).

And a final comment from our task leader, David Buckler, “Well done folks. You all did a marvellous job today.”

Editor’s comment: Our intrepid reporter may have used a bit of artistic license with his quotes 🙂

Photo credits: Jim Storey.

Cathy Holden writes:

It’s official! Three new bridges will be in place for the summer. Work on the replacement of the Carnival and Brookly bridges (the current bridges are pictured above) as well as the new link bridge over The Flash will begin in the next few weeks.

The new Flash bridge will be particularly welcome. It will facilitate a flat access point from the railway station car park to the network of footpaths round the Pond for the mobility impaired, cyclists and those with baby buggies.  The current steps will be removed once the link bridge is in place.  The large willow by the culvert arches at The Flash has already been felled to make way for the new bridge (see picture above).

The funding of these bridges was achieved through a variety of sources. £15,000 was allotted from the Rushmoor Environmental Fund, £448 was generously raised by members at our Curry Evening last January and the remainder is an accrual of Local Government Section 106 funds from new developments in Fleet and Church Crookham.

It is not only our visitors with mobility scooters, wheelchairs or buggies who will benefit, the bridges will also allow our conservation work parties access to the entire Pond without having to go the long way round via the local roads.

Colin Gray, Fleet Pond Society Chairman, said: “The link bridge over The Flash has been something we have waited a long time to achieve.  There has been no easy access from Fleet station car park to the pond footpath for the mobility impaired, cyclists or children’s buggies.  At last we will have a level access to benefit many people.”

Keep an eye out for information displayed around the Pond informing you of when the work will be taking place, detailing necessary diversions etc.

Picture credits: Cathy Holden

It’s amazing the number of people that visit and take an active interest in Fleet Pond!

For instance, in the first week of February we had visits from one of the Camberley Study Walks Groups which are led by Bill Andrews (the man with the beard and the yellow bobble hat in the picture above).

The top picture is taken from the Tuesday walk and the one below from the Thursday walk. Please note that the top photo includes some people who are members of the Camberley U3A Walking Group who just happened to be walking around Fleet Pond at the same time!

The top picture shows Colin Gray, the Chairman of Fleet Pond Society, giving a short and very interesting talk on the history, geology and restoration issues of the Pond.

If you would like Colin to give a talk at the pond or at an event, please do get in touch. Colin’s contact details are on the About page above.