Category Archives: Volunteering

Volunteer Event This Sunday, 8 February

Conservation, Events, Volunteering

David Pottinger writes:

There will be a volunteer event this Sunday, 8 February at Fleet Pond.

Why not come along for some fresh air and exercise, as well as having the nice feeling that you’re doing something really useful for the local community?

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 tasks are supervised by Rachel Jones of Hart Countryside Rangers together with members of Fleet Pond Society (FPS).

Details of the task (weather permitting) are here, which also gives a list of future Sunday volunteer events (Feb – Jun 2015).

For interest, here’s some pictures from the corresponding event held last year (see here):

2014-02-09_fps-03

Tasty hot potatoes – it was obviously not that cold either, t-shirt weather!

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FPS Sunday Events Schedule (Feb to Jun 2015)

Conservation, Events, Volunteering

FPS Sunday Events 2015 1The next volunteer event is a week this Sunday, 8 February 2015.

For this event, Colin Gray, Chairman of Fleet Pond Society (FPS), writes:

“The task will be directed at reducing holly growth in the woodland fringes around Guildford Road access point. Holly develops thick cover which shades out the diversity of ground flora so it needs to be thinned to maintain the diverse ground plant life.

Holly is also (as you know) very prickly stuff to handle so please ensure your arms are covered and avoid scratching your (or anyone else’s) face. There are some people who react to holly scratches with a rash so care is important.

Please register with Rachel well in advance of the day to ensure we load enough tools, email countryside@hart.gov.uk or phone 01252 623443.

Rachel is a busy ranger, so the sooner she can compile her list the happier she is.

Hope to see you there rain, sun or snow!”

A reminder will be given on this blog next week and some information on the previous task (in January) is available here.

 

Volunteer Event This Sunday, 11 January

Events, Volunteering

David Pottinger writes:

There will be a volunteer event this Sunday, 11 January at Fleet Pond.

Why not come along for some fresh air and exercise, as well as having the nice feeling that you’re doing something really useful for the local community?

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 tasks are supervised by Rachel Jones of Hart Countryside Rangers together with members of Fleet Pond Society (FPS).

For this task, Colin Gray, FPS Chairman, writes:

“Wishing you all a very happy New Year. I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas. The task for Sunday 11th January will be back on the Dry Heath, near the reserve car park. More birch to cut and clear and lots of cut material to make a sizeable bonfire!

You might like to know that our local RSPB members group, N E Hampshire RSPB, is holding an event for the Big Garden Birdwatch over the weekend 24/25th January. Volunteers from NEH RSPB will be at Fleet Pond on the same Sunday 11th January from 10.00 am. to 2 p.m. to advertise the event and have lots of information for people to see. They will have a gazebo at Boathouse Corner and will have set up telescopes and binoculars on Lions’ View. Even if you cannot join the work on the Dry Heath I am sure the RSPB volunteers would like to meet you.”

Out of interest, here are some pictures of a similar volunteer event from January 2014.

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A Pictorial Review Of 2014

Photography, Volunteering

2014-10-24_A Young Volunteer

 Who said driving a tractor was hard?

David Pottinger writes:

Here’s my selection of photos that were published on the blog during 2014 (plus two others). They are mostly in chronological order, January to December.

As you can see, a lot more goes on at the Pond than you might imagine!

If you’d like to support Fleet Pond Society, please consider joining, it’s just £10 a year (with the newsletter emailed) or £15 via post (see here).

Membership fees help us carry out a wide variety of tasks that extend and complement those carried out by Hart Countryside Services. In addition to this, we also greatly appreciate funds and services kindly provided by a number of local organisations and companies.

On the theme of pictures, please note that the deadline for the FPS Photographic Competition for 2014 is fast approaching – 5 January 2015. You can find the details here. Best of luck!

2014-01-20_Fujitsu Team

The team from Fujitsu helping out in early January

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This is the sort of thing that volunteers end up doing!

2014-02-01_05

 The start of the year was unfortunately a bit of a washout

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 The photo competition winners for 2013 – see here for a slideshow

FPS 2013 Liza Toth Winner - Small

The overall winner for the 2013 FPS Photographic Competition – Liza Toth

2014-02-26_Eastern Viewpoint 2

 Something unusual being constructed at the Pond!

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 BT volunteers together with Rachel Jones, Hart Countryside Ranger

Phill Gower Volunteer of the Year 2013

 FPS Volunteer of the Year for 2013 – Phil Gower

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 FPS stalwart and Deputy Chairman, Terry Austin, receiving a well-deserved award from the High Sheriff of Hampshire

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 The Lions’ View taking shape – an attractive new addition to Fleet Pond

2014-04-18_04 Lions View Opening

 The opening ceremony for the Lions’ View

2014-05-31_WD Rescue Hedgehog 2

How surprising – an albino hedgehog!

2014-05-31_WD Parade of Stands

The very popular Wildlife Day at the Pond in May

eagle radio fleet pond

Being interviewed (in the reeds) by Eagle Radio

Woodpecker June 2014

 Bird ringing – a magnificent Green Woodpecker

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 Navigating the World Wide Web (Fleet Carnival)

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Jim Storey, one of our Committee Members!

2014-09-05 Dimension 1

Dimension Data helping out at the Pond, as they have done for several years – it’s really appreciated!

2014-09-05_Southern Electric 1s

 The enthusiastic team from SSE

2014-09-27_Hedgehogs 3s

Mud no object…volunteers can de a dedicated lot!

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 Beavers having a great time at the Pond (September)

2014-09-26_Board at Lions View

Appreciating the info and panorama at the Lions’ View

2014-10-03_Hart Ranger and Cutter s

Ranger Rachel doing some serious reed cutting!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O0m_Y87JpM&w=560&h=315]

Video of sunrise at Fleet Pond (wildlife appears after one minute)

Volunteer Event This Sunday, 14 December

Conservation, Volunteering

David Pottinger writes:

There will be a volunteer event this Sunday, 14 December at Fleet Pond.

Why not come along for some fresh air and exercise, as well as having the nice feeling that you’re doing something really useful for the local community?

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 next Sunday volunteer event will be in January 2015.

The tasks are supervised by Rachel Jones of Hart Countryside Rangers together with members of Fleet Pond Society (FPS).

For this task, Colin Gray, FPS Chairman, writes:

“The task for Sunday will be a big burn-up at the Dry Heath near the reserve car park. We have a lot of cut material to dispose of so, weather permitting, baked potatoes are on the menu (see also picture below). Some vegetation cutting will be included of intrusive birch on the heath.

You will need strong waterproof boots as the soil is still muddy from all the rain but wellies should not be essential. If you need a cold drink, please bring that with you as we only supply a warm drink at mid-morning.

It is not obligatory, but should you wish to bring some festive food with you I am sure we could make good use of it as this is our last session before Christmas.”

Out of interest, here are some pictures from previous December meetings.

Two from last year:

2013-12-08_Time for Coffee and Cake

Coffee time

2013-12-08_The Firemen

Firemen at work!

and two from 2010

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Baking potatoes 🙂

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Sharing the festive cheer!