Colin Gray, Chairman of FPS, writes:

“Rachel Jones and I made a quick tour of the Pond earlier this week to look at the numerous impacts of the recent gales and excess of rain and decide on this Sunday’s task.

Natural England has approved the construction of the new viewing platform on the eastern side of Fleet Pond. Our task will be to clear scrub and saplings from the construction site and any that would interfere with the view over the reeds.

It is very wet at and around the embankment on which the viewing platform will be built so wellington boots are essential if you possess a pair. We have only a limited supply to loan so if you possess wellies, please bring them along.

There is also quite a lot of bramble around so be prepared to trip over strands or tear clothing on the runners!

Rachel has insisted we supply baked potatoes (if we can get a good fire started) which should be an added incentive for you?

Please let Rachel know if you are going to join us (contact details here) so we can ensure there are enough potatoes to go round. If you come by car please park in Kenilworth Road as there is very limited space to park a car at the Workshop.

If all goes to plan we will  be installing the viewing platform in the week beginning 24^th February and with the approach ramp will probably take about 3 days to build.

If you have spare hours during the working week that you could spare to help us in this task, please let me know.

With fingers crossed for a reasonably dry Sunday, I hope to see you there.”

Ed. Please see here and here for additional information.

David Pottinger writes:

Over the past few months there has been an enormous amount of conservation work carried out by volunteers at the pond. We’re really grateful for all the efforts that so many people have put in!

As you can imagine, we’re always looking for new volunteers – why not make it a New Year’s Resolution for 2014? The two main volunteering activities are carried out by the Sunday Volunteers and by the Last of the Summer Wine team.

Here’s a collection of pictures taken at recent events (spanning November and December) that give a flavour of the work carried out, together with descriptions. Many thanks to Rachel Jones, the Grazing Ranger for Hart Countryside Services, for providing the photos and text!

The locations mentioned can be found on the map of Fleet Pond here.

Sunday Volunteers:

8 December 2013:

The Lads

Time for coffee, cakes and a catchup 🙂

The Firemen

Rachel writes:

A great Xmas FPS day had by all this Sunday. Thank you for all your hard work, especially to the new recruits! The team cleared all the storm damaged branches off the Brookly stream bed and surrounding area and burnt up a huge pile of scrub cleared recently.

Obstructions in the Gelvert Stream were pulled out and a start was made on Terry and Mandy’s dipwell route! Hot spuds and Mars cake were well received  – thank you Colin!

3 November 2013:

Rachel writes:

We had six new recruits at the Fleet Pond Society Sunday morning task today! Every one worked hard clearing birch that had encroached on the Dry heathland. Now you can see the heather more clearly and the cut stumps were treated and roots and brash carefully burnt on our fire site. The picnic area was tidied up a bit after the recent storm damage.

The Explorers also joined us and enjoyed the hot potatoes and famous Mars cake! The overgrown footpath leading from the car park is also clear enabling easier access for wheel chairs and buggies. Thank you to all who came and we hope you had a very enjoyable day!

Last of the Summer Wine (LOSW):

15/11/2013:

LOSW were out in the fresh autumn air working hard clearing bracken on the woodland edge at Fleet Pond. Removing the bracken gave more bluebells a chance to thrive last year, and we hope to see them benefit this spring now the sunlight can penetrate the soil. The LOSW team aim to make the woodland walks around Fleet Pond even more enjoyable by putting in the hard graft now 🙂

22/11/2013:

A brilliant morning was had by the LOSW team (Rangers Rachel and Will were also kindly invited ). Grasmere Marsh was polished off by brush cutter Terry and and the cuttings were burnt on the fire site. Mandy , Nick and young Nick did the real work with the scythe and rakes!

This was an important task as it was part of the management plans reed bed rotational cutting regime to improve the quality of the habitat for particular bird species, invertebrates and other wildlife around Fleet Pond.

29/11/2013:

A great turn out for LOSW this Friday when all the team got stuck into cutting back vegetation on the banks of the Brookly stream. They got down in the water to scoop out leaves and debris to ensure good water flow. There is work to be done in the area to ensure the flood banks are not obstructing the main flow of the stream if we get heavy rain, so the rangers will continue this work next week.

The North East Reserves Team at the Pond

Rachel Jones writes:

“A fantastic turn out from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT) North East Reserves Team Tuesday group.

A huge thank you for your efforts, clearing storm damage branches in the car park edges and then attacking the birch encroachment on the dry heath land.

Volunteer John got an impressive fire going and most of the cut scrub was burnt up and stumps treated. I found it hard to keep up the pace collecting all the cuttings! HIWWT Leader Guy kept the group under reasonable control so that they didn’t clear all the trees!

There was a keen interest in the history booklet created by Fleet Pond Society (see a sample page below and visit here for a free download) as well as maps of the pond as those who had not been before were keen to come back to walk the footpaths.”

Colin Gray writes:

“This Sunday we will be based at the access gate to Fugelmere/Gelvert Marsh, adjacent to Sandy Bay. We plan a large bonfire to clear away as much as possible of the broken, cut and fallen debris from the storm.

Lots of branches to cut up and move to the fire site, some bracken to burn and various places from which to clear material which was cut to make damaged trees safe.

The weather forecast at the moment is reasonably good, dry if rather cloudy.

If all goes to plan there will be potatoes to bake to add to our usual fare and if anyone cares to bring other festive food please feel free to do so!”

If you would like to join us or would like to find out more information about the Fleet Pond Volunteer Group, please contact Hart Countryside Services on 01252 623443 or email countryside@hart.gov.uk