Category Archives: Volunteering

Do You Have Some Free Time On A Friday?

Events, Volunteering

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRZOm3-Zx5c&w=560&h=315]

Click to Play

A ‘Full of Life’ video from Hart District Council featuring a selection of FPS ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ volunteers

If you have some free time on a Friday and fancy being out in the fresh air and working with a friendly bunch of volunteers, why not consider joining the Last of the Summer Wine (LOSW) group organised by Fleet Pond Society?

Sessions, which typically run most Fridays (roughly 10:00 – 12:30), cover a wide variety of tasks, from cutting down overgrown vegetation to managing the islands. No previous skills required.

Please contact FPS Chairman, Colin Gray, for further information: phone 01252 616183 or email Colin Gray.

Here are some photos from previous major LOSW tasks (rest assured, most tasks aren’t this complicated!):

ehps-pond-1

Helping construct a new pond for Elvetham Heath Primary School

2016-05-15_jetty 05s

Constructing the new pond dipping platform

2016-01-15 Team at Bridge s

A new bridge at the end of Guildford Road

Time Team at the Pond

Education, History, Volunteering

memo0035

Cathy Holden writes:

“The ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ volunteer team morphed into the Time Team last Friday as we excavated a WWII site at the Pond. These concrete slabs were placed in situ when the land was owned and used by the military.

From the shape of them, our thoughts are that they were supports for large fuel tanks.

If anyone knows, please share with us.

Unfortunately, we didn’t unearth any interesting artifacts except possibly the remains of their china loo!”

Further fascinating history about Fleet Pond can be found here.

memo0039

memo0043

Volunteer Event This Sunday, 12 February

Conservation, Events, Volunteering

There will be a volunteer event at Fleet Pond this coming Sunday and all are welcome to attend (see below for registering).

Colin Gray, Chairman of Fleet Pond Society, writes:

“The task for the coming Sunday will depend on how the water levels have settled after the recent rain. The target area is Coldstream Marsh (see map here), accessible from the “workers only” stile near to where the Coldstream Ditch flows under the footpath into the marsh. Alder and sallow scrub need to be cleared from this area. Soil conditions will be wet and muddy so please bring your wellies or borrow a pair of ours from the workshop.

Meet as usual at the Countryside Workshop, Old Pump House Close, Fleet, GU51 3DN at 9.15 a.m. Please park in Kenilworth Road as parking is very restricted at the workshop. Bring water if you need it but we will have our usual choice of warm beverages mid-morning.

Should you come later and cannot find us at Coldstream Marsh, call me on 07966 441671 and I will let you know if we have had to change location.”

For further information and booking for this event (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 Sunday volunteer tasks are supervised by a Hart Countryside Ranger, Nick Macfarlane, together with members of Fleet Pond Society.

A full listing of the Sunday volunteer events for the 2016/17 season can be found here. Why not give it a go?

Volunteer Event This Sunday, 8 January

Conservation, Events, Volunteering

2014-02-09_fps-03

There will be a volunteer event at Fleet Pond this coming Sunday and all are welcome to attend (see below for registering). As a taster, pictures from previous events are given above and below.

Colin Gray, Chairman of Fleet Pond Society, writes:

“We start 2017 with a task to widen the corridor between Wood Lane Heath and Fugelmere Marsh with some thinning of Bog Myrtle bushes and removal of birch seedlings and saplings. This will be a rather wet task as recent rain has made the soil even soggier in this low lying zone between two moist habitats. I highly recommend wellington boots. We can loan a pair if you do not have your own but our range of sizes is a bit limited.”

For further information and booking for this event (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 Sunday volunteer tasks are supervised by a Hart Countryside Ranger, Nick Macfarlane, together with members of Fleet Pond Society.

A full listing of the Sunday volunteer events for the 2016/17 season can be found here. Why not give it a go?

2015-02-08 Sunday Vols 2s

Rushmoor Volunteer Recognition Event and FPS

People, Volunteering

rushmoor-michael-thompson

Rushmoor Mayor Jacquie Vosper with Michael Thompson of FPS

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

“Last month Michael Thompson and I went to the Rushmoor Volunteer Recognition event at the Rushmoor Council Offices. Michael was presented with a certificate by the Mayor of Rushmoor Jacquie Vosper for his many and varied volunteering activities with Fleet Pond Society.

From the Rushmoor site:

Rushmoor has a rich tradition of voluntary organisations supporting our community. Volunteers are the life-blood of local projects, organisations and charities.

The Celebration Event was held at the offices of Rushmoor Borough Council on Wednesday 9th November 2016 from 12:00 pm to 1.30pm in the company of the Mayor of Rushmoor, Jacquie Vosper. At this event Voluntary Organisations had nominated  a volunteer to attend the lunch with a guest to receive a certificate from the Mayor in recognition of their volunteering activities.

Michael was nominated by FPS for his keen dedication to Fleet Pond. He is a regular at the Sunday work parties at which he is master of bonfire making, joins the Friday morning Last of the Summer Wine volunteers when his work schedule allows and he has hosted visiting children’s’ groups for pond dipping and other educational and fun activities (see example picture below).”

Many congratulations to Michael!

IMG_8381s