Category Archives: Walks

Blogging About Fleet Pond

People, Photography, Walks

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David Pottinger writes:

It’s always illuminating to read what others think of Fleet Pond and to hear how they get involved and appreciate it. Recently I came across an interesting post by a local resident, Melissa, who gives her reasons for visiting, and some of the different animals and locations seen:

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been spending an hour or so at the end of each day walking around my neighbouring nature reserve. Fleet Pond is so close and it seems ridiculous that we barely visited when we first moved here years ago. Now, I can’t imagine a day without it. Instead of getting home and immediately vegging out, I take a lovely meditative 2 mile walk, sometimes extending it to 3 or 4 miles over the weekend.

Please take a look at her interesting article for the details (the attractive photos above and below are taken from it).

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The story related in Melissa’s post reminded me a bit of my own situation. Although I live very near the Pond I rarely visited it for quite a while.

However when I had business trips to London I used to walk to the railway station through the nature reserve (at least if it wasn’t raining) and each time I noticed something different, in particular various improvements (better paths etc).

When I decided to work part-time I thought I’d give something back to the local community by joining a voluntary group. Luckily I’d heard about Fleet Pond Society (FPS) and elected to give that a go. I was quite amazed at how much they did and what an inventive group they were.

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Visitors reading the new board at the Lions’ View (both provided by FPS)

Fascinated and surprised that so much was going on (see example picture below), I decided to set up this blog as a way of communicating events and activities at the Pond to as wide an audience as possible. This has paid off as, since starting in July 2008, we’ve had nearly 130,000 views!

Air Ambulance at Sandy Bay

From the first post on this blog in July 2008 – it really happened!

If you’d like to join (and thereby support) FPS, please see here.

If you’d like to get involved as a volunteer, in one way or another, please contact Colin Gray, our Chairman, who would be delighted to hear from you.

Colin’s contact details are:

Phone 01252 616183

Email colin@fleetpondsociety.co.uk

Picture credits (top two): here.

Free Walks For Half-Term

Walks

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From Get Surrey:

Youngsters can explore the great outdoors by going on one of many countryside walks this autumn.

Why not take the whole family along and stop off for a pub lunch to make it a great day out.

We’ve compiled a list of popular child-friendly strolls across Surrey and north-east Hampshire.

The list, which gives 17 different locations, includes:

Fleet: 1km, 3km and 4km walks to choose from around the wildlife haven that is Fleet Pond off Cove Road, Fleet. Lunch stop: Heron on the Lake pub, Old Cove Road, Fleet, GU51 2RY.

Details of the three walks around Fleet Pond can be found here and are illustrated in the map above.

The Eye-Catching Benches At Sandy Bay

Walks

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David Pottinger writes:

Here’s a couple of photos of the two carved benches installed in May at Sandy Bay. If you’ve previously not spotted them, keep a look out for them in your walks around the Pond or, better still, try them out!

They were created by chainsaw carving by the same person that created the popular totem pole plus heron carving at the picnic area. For another impressive example, see also the dragonfly on display by the carver at the recent Wildlife Day at Fleet Pond.

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Photo credits: David Pottinger

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)