We’ve had a number of posts advertising the Sunday volunteer events (schedule here), some before and after photo-shots as well as a volunteer spotlight (search this blog for details). In this post, I’ll go through what happened at the event on December 14, as this is fairly typical.

It starts with everyone assembling at the Countryside Workshop, Old Pump House Close (next to 65 Kenilworth Road) at 9.30. Typically about 8-10 people turn up (both sexes and with a wide range of ages). Tools and equipment suitable for the job at hand are loaded on to the tractor trailer and everyone walks to the site (photo above). When there, the team leader describes the purpose of the task, how it’s going to be carried out and also explains the health and safety aspects. For the event on December 14, the trees in the picture below needed to be cut down.

In mid-morning there is a break for coffee, tea or chocolate plus some amazingly good munchies! As this was the last event before Christmas there were some extra celebrations as well (below).

The event ended by either stacking or burning the trees that were chopped down (below).

Volunteering on a Sunday morning may not sound that enticing but if you like being in the fresh air and working within a friendly team for a good common purpose, it’s certainly something that’s worth thinking about and hopefully giving a try!

The next Sunday volunteer event will be on 11th January 2009.

Above: picture of Fleet Pond iced over!

Joanna Lawrence, the Fleet Pond Ranger, writes:

Winter may seem a rather quiet time in terms of wildlife sightings. Many of the invertebrates around in the summer have now disappeared, as have many of the wildflowers found around the Pond and the summer bird visitors who come to Britain every year. However, there can still be plenty to see at this time of year.

Fleet Pond has always been an excellent place for bird watching and during the winter is maybe the best time for it as without all the tree foliage the birds are much easier to spot! Many species flock together in winter, such as long-tailed tits, siskins, and redwings. Siskins often flock together with redpolls and these mixed flocks are commonly seen in the areas of wet woodland around the Pond where they feed on the seeds of alder and birch. In the early morning or late evenings you may hear the distinctive song of the song thrush or blackbird, and tree creepers and nuthatches can often be seen searching for food on tree trunks. Kingfishers can be seen around Hemelite Bay and up and down the steams that run in to the Pond. These birds are easy to spot by their bright blue plumage as they fly past.

In the early morning or around dusk, you may be lucky enough to catch sight of deer which often graze on the areas of heath or in quiet sections of woodland around the Pond.

Colourful fungi can be found nestled in leaf litter and around trees. Although most species come out in the autumn, some can still be found at this time of year. Some of the most interesting to look at are earth stars (see picture above) , fly agaric (see picture below), puffballs, and shaggy ink caps.

Picture credits: Joanna Lawrence

Fleet Pond Society organises and runs a series of volunteer conservation activities at the Pond. The next conservation task is this coming Sunday, December 14.

If you have never been before and fancy trying it, please just turn up (details here) or else give Colin Gray a call on 01252 616183, who will be delighted to provide additional information.

Speaking from personal experience, new volunteers are made very welcome and there is a very nice friendly atmosphere overall. Tools and advice are available – you even get tea/coffee and cakes in the mid-morning break!

Interestingly the volunteers have a very wide range of ages, backgrounds and interests. To give a flavour of this, we will occasionally provide ’spotlights’ on volunteers to explain their motivations for getting involved and what they get out of it.

Hopefully this will be an additional motivation to readers of the blog to come along and give it a go – it’s a very rewarding way of spending a Sunday morning!

Further information on volunteer events and ’spotlight’ volunteers can be found by searching this blog.