Category Archives: Volunteering

Volunteer Of The Year 2013 – Phill Gower

People, Volunteering

Phill Gower Volunteer of the Year 2013

Stephen Gorys with Phill Gower (right)

Cathy Holden writes:

Phill Gower, the recipient of the Chairman of Hart District Council’s Award for Fleet Pond Society’s ‘Volunteer of the Year’ has been a long term supporter of Fleet Pond Society.

Phill is Managing Director of local business Cove Industries, and his work behind the scenes at Fleet Pond, through the generous donation of his time and expertise, has enabled many important projects to come from the drawing board to fruition.

Phill was presented with his Award by Hart District Council Chairman, Stephen Gorys at the Society’s recent AGM (see picture above).

The Executive Committee of Fleet Pond Society gave a lot of thought to who was the most deserving person to receive this Chairman’s award.   The committee wanted to recognise a person who has given most help and support to the Society and whose work has provided the most benefit to the nature reserve and to the many people who enjoy its peace, tranquillity and wildlife experience.

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Phill (left) helping construct the dipping platform on The Flash

Colin Gray, Chairman of Fleet Pond Society, said: ‘Without Phill’s generosity the Society would not be fully equipped with hi-vis jackets for the volunteers, without his technical skills and engineering help visitors would not have had the new bridge at the end of Wood Lane, the pond dipping platform on The Flash and the new viewing area on the eastern side would have still been a dream rather than in its final stages of construction.’

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Working on assembling the platform for the new viewpoint (see here)

Phill said: ‘I am thrilled to have even been considered for this award, especially considering the dedication and commitment of so many others. Maddy & I are lucky enough to ‘do a lap’ at least weekly if not more, and it is not often that a visit goes by without noticing new conservation work by the volunteer network within Fleet Pond Society and the work of Hart Countryside Services. The accumulation of all this effort provides a truly special amenity, accessible to all inhabitants of Fleet and Church Crookham. Whilst feeling rather undeserving of such an award, I feel greatly honoured and thankful to the Society for the accolade.’

Phill’s community contribution does not end with Fleet Pond he also provides voluntary support to Fleet Lions, Fleet and Church Crookham Society and Fleet Town Council.

Colin Gray said: ‘Fleet Pond Society felt it was time this modest man, who has never sought any thanks or reward for his voluntary service, was recognised.’

Photo credits: Michelle Salter (top) and David Pottinger.

Volunteer Event This Sunday – 9 March 2014

Conservation, Volunteering

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Having a well-earned baked potato at the end of the volunteer task in February

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

Rachel Jones, the Countryside Ranger, has added an update to this post (that was published yesterday, where it said that the task would be centred on the Dry Heath):

“As the Dry Heath fire site is still flooded I have set up a fire site on Fugelmere Marsh (by Sandy Bay). There are plenty of branches to clear nearby as well as further away for those that want to stretch their legs and follow the tractor!

There is work needed along the Fugelmere fence line so tasks close by as well as a great fire and spuds 🙂

See you all at the workshop for 9:15 am, we will not have the Dry Heath as our base, but Fugelmere instead.

The area is firm but a bit muddy and it would be best to wear wellies.”

If there are any major changes to the weather, this task may of course need to be modified. If you are in any doubt, please contact Hart Countryside Services (details below).

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Map showing the locations mentioned in this article

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 community?

To get a flavour of these volunteering activities, please read about the previous task here (see also picture above).

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

BT Volunteers Help Out At The Pond

Conservation, Volunteering

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The BT Volunteer Team plus Rachel Jones (front right)

Rachel Jones, the Countryside Ranger, writes:

“Last Friday British Telecom (BT) came to Fleet Pond to help with the conservation work as part of their giving back to the community via volunteer work.

They worked especially hard clearing a large portion of the encroaching birch saplings off the rear heath land habitat. They enjoyed being out of the office and in the outdoors doing a valuable task!

Also Fleet Pond Society were working at incredible speed erecting the new Eastern Viewpoint platform. We all worked as one large team as some of the BT volunteers got stuck into digging out the new pathway to the view point in preparation for the surfacing that will go on top.

Ranger Rachel was very grateful for all their hard work despite the showers!”

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Hard at work on the pathway leading to the new viewpoint (see also here)

The New Viewing Platform Is Nearly Ready

Fund Raising, People, Volunteering, Walks

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The viewing platform from the side, showing it’s elevation

David Pottinger writes:

The work on creating the exciting new viewpoint at the eastern side of Fleet Pond has now almost been completed, as can be seen from the pictures above and below. If you are taking a walk around the Pond, you can read all about this fascinating project on the poster nearby.

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The poster that explains the interesting background to the viewpoint

This impressive project was thought up and implemented by Fleet Pond Society (FPS) and provides an excellent and major example of the work that we carry out for the benefit of the community (to join FPS, please see here).

On this topic, Colin Gray, Chairman of FPS, says:

“Very many thanks to all the volunteers who turned out on any or all of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week to erect the Lions View. A superb effort and an excellent result. Thank you all.”

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The viewing platform under construction (see here)

From a previous post, Colin explains:

“The new viewpoint will be built on the old embankment laid down by the army in the 19th century as a base for a very large jetty which stretched out into the pond to launch boat-based training exercises.

Early in the 20th century the jetty was demolished and another military use was made of the embankment …

The cost of the construction of the viewing platform, the decking and the access ramp and path are to be very generously met by a grant from Fleet Lions.

To recognise this it is proposed to place two marker posts boasting lions heads at the entrance to Lions Walk, a path and a long ramp, fully accessible by people with mobility aids, leading to the new viewpoint “De Havilland Viewpoint” in recognition of its historic link to the successful development of de Havilland aircraft that served us so well in WWII.”

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This is the view from the path around the Pond

A1904 RAE jetty 2

The previous jetty, from 1904 (see here)