Latest Fleet Pond Society News
21st February 2012 : News from Fleet Pond Society AGM 2012
Mandy Saxby was announced winner of the Hart District Council Chairman’s Award to Fleet Pond Society’s Volunteer of the Year at the Fleet Pond Society AGM on Saturday 18th February 2012.
This is the third year of the award, set up by Councillor Sharyn Wheale, to recognise a volunteer or group of volunteers, who members consider has done exceptional service to Fleet Pond or the Fleet Pond Society.
Geoff Baker, of W C Baker & Son, who was unable to attend the AGM, was named as First Runner-Up and will receive a framed certificate. Geoff, along with his family and staff, is an enthusiastic supporter of the Fleet Pond Society and personally sharpens and services the large stock of tools used by their volunteers, for free.
The Second Runners-Up award was presented to the Last of the Summer Wine team, led by Terry Austin. As Cllr. Kennett commented, “They are named mainly for their dishevelled appearance after a hard mornings work under Terry’s command, rather than for ages that reflect those of the infamous TV oldies of that name.”
This intrepid team have repaired fences, cleaned and repaired the tern islands, erected bat and bird boxes, and built the boat jetty at Kenilworth Road viewpoint. Members include Mandy Saxby, with occasional help from son, Ryan, Cathy Holden, Geoff Dee and Nick Keeley.
16th January 2012 : 2012 Fleet Pond Society AGM & Volunteer of the Year.
For more information, see here.
14th December 2011 : 2011 Fleet Pond Society Mistletoe Sale.
Fleet Pond Society will be selling Mistletoe this Saturday at the Hart Shopping Centre
12th November 2011 : 2011 Fleet Pond Christmas Cards now available.
Fleet Pond Society Christmas cards are now available from vickijull@ntlworld.com.
24th October 2011 : 2011 Photo Competition
The 2011 Photo Competition is launched, this year with a simple theme of “A moment to remember”
Entry is open to members and non-members using any type of camera
No entry fee and photographs may be of any size
All entries must be received by 13th January 2012
The “PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR” will receive the annually awarded ROSE BOWL sponsored by Fleet Photographic
All photographs must have been taken at Fleet Pond Nature Reserve - up to 3 per person
All photographs entered may be used by Fleet Pond Society for any purpose it chooses
Send by email to photocomp@fleetpondsociety.co.uk
Winners will be notified prior to the prize giving at the AGM on Feb 18th 2012
10th October 2011 : Autumn walk - Birds at the Pond - Sunday 30th October 10am-12pm
Come and Join Peter Hutchins of the RSPB Basingstoke local members group and the Countryside Ranger on a guided birdwatching walk to see Fleet Pond and the spectacular autumn visitors.
Booking essential, please email me on louise.greenwood@hart.gov.uk if you would like to come along, or call the countryside workshop on 01252 623443.
Donations welcome to support the RSPB and the Clearwater Campaign. Please dress appropriately for the weather, and bring binoculars if you have them.
1st October 2011 : Join the fight for Fleet Pond
Volunteers will be welcome to join us
at the following tasks. We meet at the
Countryside Workshop, Old Pump House Close, at 9.00 a.m. for a 9.15 start every
second Sunday (except November which is the first Sunday). Date Location Task 11
Sep 11 Coldstream
Marsh Remove
alder and sallow scrub. Remove
material from site or burn on an old fire site. 9Oct
11 Coldstream
Marsh As
Sep 6
Nov 11 Coldstream
Marsh As
Sep 11
Dec 11 Dry
Heath Remove
birch scrub. Remove material from site
or burn on an old fire site. 8
Jan 12 Dry
Heath As
Dec 12
Feb 12 To
be decided 11
Mar 12 To
be decided 8
Apr, 13 May & 10 Jun 2012 Sites
to be selected. Fencing,
path and stream bank repairs as needed. The
eastern section of Coldstream Marsh is in urgent need of rescue from scrub,
hence our concentration this season. Volunteers
will need old clothing, waterproof if rain is expected, protective gloves and
wellington boots. We have a supply of
gloves and boots if you do not own these.
Conditions are wet and muddy.
Hazards include deep muddy holes to trap unwary feet, stumps and bramble
runners hiding in grass and very sharp tools. 27th September 2011 : Thank you to Fleet Carnival
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the wonderful Fleet Carnival Committee for the magnificent cheque for £2,500 which they presented to the Fleet Pond Society Clearwater Campaign today.
Fleet Pond Society want to thank the Fleet Carnival Committee and everyone who worked so hard to make this year's Carnival such a success and to all the people who came out and supported it over that weekend.
13th September : Fleet Pond in Fleet News
Under the title "A New Dawn for Fleet Pond", the news of the restoration programme for Fleet Pond is front page
news in the Fleet News.
7th September 2011 : Night Time Bat walk at Fleet Pond
14th August 2011 : Hart Council give go ahead for Phase 1 of the Fleet Pond Restoration Programme
As reported in the Fleet News & Mail of 12 August 2011, Hart Council’s Cabinet approved the planning application on 4th August
and the Planning Services Committee approved it on 10th August.
Below is Society Chairman, Colin Gray's presentation to the Council.
Chairman, members, ladies and gentlemen.
The recommendation before you this evening represents a very significant step towards the restoration of Fleet Pond Nature Reserve. For more than thirty years the Site Special Scientific Interest status of the open water has been classified as deteriorated and worsening.
This recommendation gives us the opportunity to reverse this and make the first positive steps to its recovery.
I would like to express my thanks to the officers of Hart District Council, Natural England and the Environment Agency who have put a lot of time and effort into making this possible. Combined with the works that the Defence Estates has put in place to reduce the inflow of silt to the pond, we can look forward to a much more encouraging future.
The three lead stakeholders, Hart DC, Natural England and Environment Agency have welcomed the help and support that Fleet Pond Society has been able to offer and we have been pleased to work closely with them throughout the process. We look forward to continued co-operation with them.
I hope the Cabinet will agree that Fleet Pond deserves our continued support given its high level of popularity with the local community and its close links with the heritage of our town.
Colin Gray Chairman Fleet Pond Society.
So all systems go for Phase 1.
7th August 2011 : 24 Hours of Le Pond - Still time to donate!
If you've read about Mandy Saxby's "24 Hours of Le Pond" marathon in aid of the Clearwater Campaign in the local press, you might like to know that it's not too late
to sponsor her through her Charity Giving site at http://charitygiving.co.uk/mandysaxby.
Her target was to raise £2000 and she doesn't need much more to reach it, so find a fiver (and don't forget to Gift Aid it - Better than letting your tax go on MP's expense fiddles!)
Fleet Pond is in danger of silting up and all the Clearwater Funds are going towards the effort to save it - Read more here.
A huge thank you to all have sponsored Mandy's effort so far and those who walked with her, you might like to know she actually wasn't that stiff the next day either and made it to her
keep fit session!
3rd August 2011 : Fleet Pond History Walk, past, present & future 7th August
Join Colin Gray, chairman of Fleet Pond Society on a walk to explore Fleet Pond’s 1000 years of history, including its use as
an ancient fishery and training ground for soldiers, its present condition and status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and
what the future holds for Hampshire’s largest freshwater lake.
Duration: 1½ hours. All abilities welcome. Meet at the Car Park in the Reserve.
Donations to Fleet Pond Society & the Clear water campaign welcome.
11th July 2011 : Fleet Carnival
Fleet Carnival was a great success for the Fleet Pond Society.
With the theme of Princes and Princesses, the Society went (aptly) for Swan Lake.
Although they didn't scoop any prizes, they were a big hit with the public and are set to appear in the local press and on the Eagle 96.4 website.
In case you missed them, here are some photos.
6th July 2011 : Fleet Carnival - Profits to Clearwater Campaign
Fleet Carnival is this weekend (8th-10th July) - visit http://www.fleetcarnival.org/ for full details off all the exciting events over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
All profits raised are dedicated to our Clearwater Campaign - thank you Carnival.
Come along and see the Swan Lake/Fleet Pond swans strut their stuff in the Grand Procession through Fleet town centre on Saturday 3pm!
25th June 2011 20:06 : The Le Pond 24 Hours comes to a triumphant end
Mandy walked the last hour with her son, Ryan to complete her epic 24 Hour Endurance event around Fleet Pond.
The daylight hours brought dry weather and the 7:30 PM finish was in warm evening sunshine.
Friends, family and FPS members were there to cheer her last few steps and Chairman, Colin Gray presented Mandy with a certificate to mark the successful completion.
People made donations to the Clearwater Campaign as they saw Mandy during the day, but if you didn't get a chance you can still sponsor her through her Charity Giving site
at http://charitygiving.co.uk/mandysaxby.
Thanks to all who have sponsored Mandy or walked with her and special thanks to Nicolette and Richard for providing 'pitstop facilities'!
25th June 2011 08:19 : The Le Pond 24 Hours passes half way!
It's been a wet night, but Mandy has passed the half way point in her 24 hour challenge.
If you're around the Pond today, wish her well and don't forget that you can still sponsor her by visiting her Charity Giving site at http://charitygiving.co.uk/mandysaxby.
25th June 2011 01:48 : The Le Pond 24 Hours continues!
I've just returned from joining Mandy for the 11:30 - 01:30 stint and a quarter of the 24 hours is now complete.
The rain's eased off a little as I write and Jim's arrived to cover the next 2 hour stint, once Mandy's had a well earned pitstop for food and drink and to stretch her muscles.
24th June 2011 19:30 : The Le Pond 24 Hours begins!
Mandy and Michelle set off for the first hour of the 24 Hours of 'Le Pond' at exactly 19:30, just as the rain began.
If you're around the pond between now and 19:30 tomorrow night, be sure to say hello and contribute a little to the Clearwater Campaign.
19th June 2011 : A Thank You and a quick reminder from Fleet Pond Society
18th June 2011 : Ranger Ramble
A few people turned out in mixed weather with for Ranger Tim's last Ranger Ramble
We got a chance to learn about the Conservation tasks and how changes to the Pond area is increasing the diversity of the flora and fauna and returning species not seen for decades, or longer,
to the pond.
Species, like Dodder, above, and the Cuckoo Wasp are rare but doing well in the cleared areas.
We also got to see areas where the public can't go and learnt why these non-pond wetland areas are important.
We also said hello to the Belted Galloways grazing and learnt how they also improve the environment in the Pond area.
So, if you want to learn more about what's going on at Fleet Pond and why the sometimes not so pretty work is so important in the long run, pop along on the next Ranger Ramble.
16th June 2011 : 24 Hours of "Le Pond" to help Save Fleet Pond - June 24th - 25th
Mandy Saxby is undertaking a 24 hour walk around Fleet Pond from 7PM on June 24th to 7PM on June 25th to raise funds for the Clearwater Campaign.
You can sponsor her by visiting her Charity Giving site at http://charitygiving.co.uk/mandysaxby.
If you would like to join her for part of the 24 Hours (for a contribution to the campaign fund), drop a mail to her here.
13th June 2011 : FPS Garden Party a great success
Thanks to everyone who attended or helped out with the Garden Party.
It was a great sucess again this year with even the sun visiting despite threats of showers!
9th June 2011 : 'Ranger Ramble' at Fleet Pond - 18th June
Join Fleet Pond Ranger Tim Ackroyd on a walk to look at the various management works going on, and a look at some of the important wildlife and habitats found around the Pond.
25th May 2011 : Cattle back at Fleet Pond
Once more we have some summer visitors to help out at Fleet Pond and here are photos of them!
They are a pair of Belted Galloways.
The first is Lupin, who is grey - she is in calf and is due in September.
The brown and white cow is Mozzarella and you will see them on Wood Lane Heath.
29th March 2011 : 24 Hours of "Le Pond" to help Save Fleet Pond
Following Nick Keeley's epic cycle trip, fellow FPS Committee member, Mandy Saxby is undertaking a 24 hour walk around Fleet Pond in June to raise funds for the Clearwater Campaign (For more details
see Chris Packham's Video).
You can sponsor her by visiting her Charity Giving site at http://charitygiving.co.uk/mandysaxby.
If you would like to join her for part of the 24 Hours (for a contribution to the campaign fund), drop a mail to her here.
26th March 2011 : New Photo site for Fleet Pond images - Contribute now!
David Pottinger who runs the Fleet Pond Blog let me know about a new site where anyone can contribute their photos of Fleet Pond
I’ve recently set up a photo-sharing group in Flickr for Fleet Pond Society:
So add your photos from Fleet Pond, old or new, and help us build a great portfolio.
28th February 2011 : Mavis Gray is Top Volunteer
Mavis Gray has volunteered for the Fleet Pond Society since 1985 and this dedication was recognised when she was honoured with the Hart Chairman’s Award for ‘Fleet Pond Society’s Volunteer of the Year 2010’.
Hart Council Chairman, Councillor Colin Ive presented Mavis with the award at the Society’s recent AGM.
In the citation, read out by Councillor Ive, it was noted that in her support of the Society Mavis wears a variety of hats. Over the years Mavis has manned information stands which raise the Society’s profile in the community and recruit new members, spent many hours preparing and providing food and refreshments at social events, at the Executive Committee meetings and at the monthly work parties, where her special energy cakes are legendary. On the administration side, Mavis proof reads the quarterly newsletter and is a great support to her husband Colin Gray, the Society Chairman.
Mavis’s reaction on receiving the award was one of shock and pleasure:
‘This Award has come as a complete surprise to me and I am both honoured and proud to receive it. I feel privileged to have been nominated and I thank Councillor Ive for coming along to present it to me. I have enjoyed all the years that I have been a part of the Society.’
Three nominations were received for ‘Volunteer of the Year 2010’ and the other two were:-
Nick Keeley for his impressive sponsored cycle ride to Liverpool and back in July 2010 which has raised more than £4,000 for the Clearwater Campaign aimed at funding the preparation work for the restoration programme for Fleet Pond. Nick had no support team for the ride, relying on his own initiative in finding food and overnight accommodation at each stage. Only on one occasion did he need to call on his wife Margaret to take him to the nearest hotel when there was none available at one of his stops.
The ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ volunteer team led by Terry Austin, for their dedication to on-site management works while the Fleet Pond Ranger needed to devote all her time to writing the Management Plan. The team regularly performs numerous week day support tasks around the Reserve including: building the new boat jetty at Kenilworth Wood, clearing the overgrown paths along the Brookly Stream, putting up protective fencing and repairing broken fencing as well as helping the Rangers with the reed bed project, amongst many other tasks.
As Chairman of Hart Council during 2009/2010, Councillor Sharyn Wheale donated this trophy to the Society to be awarded to the volunteer that the Executive Committee decided had contributed most to the Society either in the year in question or over several years leading up to the award. On this occasion the Executive Committee had a long debate over the merits of each nominee, all considered very worthy of nomination, but the vote for Mavis Gray to receive the award was unanimous.
25th February 2011 : Photo Competition winners announced
The winners of this year’s competition were announced at the AGM and the Rose Bowl was awarded to Richard Bebb. The standard of entries was very high and the judge had a very difficult task in selecting winners.
Many thanks must go to Terry Chapman for giving up his time to both judge the competition and to come to present the prizes.
Winners photographs will appear on this site shortly.
3rd January 2011 : Fleet Pond Blog has the "Wow!" Factor
David Pottinger, Fleet Pond's Blogger wrote to say:
The company we use for the blog have done a review of all the blogs they run (over 16 million of them worldwide) and ours came out with a 'wow' factor ie really really good!
Here's the link: http://fleetpond.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/2010-in-review/
I've quite alot of new ideas for 2011(to keep the popularity up and to draw in new readers) but am always keen to hear of new ideas and as well as suggestions for new writers, including friends and colleagues.
Congratulations to Colin for writing the most popular post viewed in 2010 (followed by Peter, me and Joanna). It's interesting to see what others think are interesting topics as this might give us some new ideas about what to advertise or promote as a compelling or especially interesting aspect of the Pond.
19th December 2010 : History Snippet - Plane crash in Fleet Pond (1917!)
Vicki Jull noted this snippet in the Fleet History Society newsletter.
An aircraft crash in 1917 was briefly reported in the following few lines: "Aeroplane in Fleet Pond - on Tuesday evening (14 September 1917), just before the storm, an aeroplane went nose first into the pond.
The occupants had a marvellous escape, considering the position of the aeroplane in the pond. The machine has now been successfully removed from the water.
A soldier's wife pluckily swam over quarter of a mile to their rescue."
1st December 2010 : Winter comes to Fleet Pond
Mandy, one of our Dipwell readers, snapped the snow at Sandy Bay this morning.
Christmas Card Winners ceremony
Cathy Holden writes:
In a ceremony in the Hart Centre on Saturday 4th September, the winners of the Fleet Pond Society Christmas Card competition were presented with certificates and copies of their cards by Society Chairman Colin Gray.
Organiser Vicki Jull said ‘The competition was extremely well supported with beautiful entries of a very high standard. Choosing the five winners was exceedingly difficult.’
The five winners (pictured above) were (left to right) Louise Coughlin, Auli McCall, Michelle Salter, Angela Whitby and Natalie Elliott.
Colin Gray said ‘This is the first time the Society has held a Christmas Card Competition and we are delighted that it has been such a huge success. We would like to thank everyone who entered.’
The winning cards are available to purchase at £3 for a pack of the 5 through Vicki Jull at vickijull@ntlworld.com
All monies raised through the competition and the sale of the cards is going towards the Fleet Pond Clearwater Campaign.
The winning photographs can be seen here.
July 11th 2010 : Nick Keeley's sponsored ride update
Nick has reached Liverpool and, after a well deserved rest day, will be starting his return leg shortly.
You can follow his daily updates on the Fleet Pond Society blog and donate to the Clearwater Campaign at
http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/donate/donate_b.asp?charityid=1945
July 10th 2010 : Fleet Pond Society take top honours at Carnival!
Fleet Pond Society's float took victory in Class 2 of the Float competition at the 2010 Fleet Carnival.
This year the float celebrated the pastime of fishing.
As you can see, the famous monk outfits got another outing - Very fetching!
July 8th 2010 : Nick Keeley's sponsored ride update
Fleet Pond Society Treasurer, Nick Keeley, is well into his 500 mile sponsored ride in aid of the Clearwater Campaign.
The map below shows his progress so far (Purple is completed up to day 3, red is day 4 which was yesterday).
You can follow his daily updates on the Fleet Pond Society blog and donate to the Clearwater Campaign at
http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/donate/donate_b.asp?charityid=1945
July 4th 2010 : Nick Keeley starts sponsored ride
On Sunday 4th July 2010, Fleet Pond Society Treasurer, Nick Keeley, set off from Fleet to cycle 500 miles to Liverpool and back to raise money for Fleet Pond’s Clearwater Campaign.
The Clearwater Campaign is vital to the future of Fleet Pond, if we are to prevent it losing its status as SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) or even disappearing completely due to the increasingly serious silting.
To follow Nick’s progress on his marathon journey, visit the Fleet Pond Society blog where the story of his ride will be updated daily from Sunday evening.
Please help us to safeguard the future of Fleet Pond by donating online at http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/donate/donate_b.asp?charityid=1945
July 3rd 2010 : More cattle at Fleet Pond
We have even more cattle grazing at Fleet Pond now!
Knickerbocker is apparently very used to people and following the bucket etc, but the other two are slightly less used to people,
so they should be approached with a bit more care (but they shouldn't cause any problems!)
The people at Miller's Ark Farm (where they come from) would like to get these two more used to people so it will do them some good to be approached!
June 11th 2010 : Cattle back at Fleet Pond
As in previous years, we've cattle back grazing the heathland at Fleet Pond.
Their names are Mirror (tag number 191), Milo (196) and Maltloaf (197).
They are hard to tell apart as they are all quite similar in markings!
There are also two cows on nearby Elvetham Heath - the white one is Imogen and the red one is Hetti.
June 5th 2010 : New Jetty 'launched'
On the 30th May a small ceremony took place to 'officially' hand the new jetty over to Fleet Pond Society.
A group of volunteers (self dubbed "The Last of the Summer Wine") had built the new jetty, which will make it much easier to launch the Society's and Ranger's boats.
As well as the wooden jetty, a ramp has been built to allow the society's tractors to reverse the boats into the water on their trailer.
To celebrate, a number of people took short trips out on the Pond.
And finally, a shot showing what hard, mucky work it was.
Well done and thanks to all involved.
June 1st 2010 : Sponsored Ride in aid of the Clearwater Campaign
To support our Clearwater campaign, our new treasurer, Nick Keeley plans to have a break from counting money and try to raise some instead. In July or August, depending on the weather, he plans to cycle from Fleet to Liverpool and back, a round trip of about 500 miles in two weeks. Please, therefore, sponsor him, if you have not already done so.
.
You can sponsor Nick at http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/nickkeeley .
If you are a UK taxpayer and fill in the Gift Aid declaration a few more pounds can be reclaimed by us from the tax authorities. This is by far the best way for the Society, as it saves us having to write to people to collect your sponsorship after the ride.
Alternatively, you can send a cheque, payable to Fleet Pond Society together with your email address. Send it to Nick Keeley, 12 Chestnut Grove, Fleet, GU51 3LW.
Your cheque will not be cashed until after the ride and will be returned if the ride does not take place. Your email address will enable him to let you know how the ride goes.
As he will be riding alone, paying for his own accommodation and food, carrying all his clothing in two panniers on the bike, he doesn’t need any back-up vehicles, so all money raised will go to the Clearwater campaign.
He plans to go to Liverpool via Reading, Bicester, Banbury, Leamington Spa, Lichfield, then up the Trent Valley, over to Cheshire and by ferry across the Mersey to Liverpool. He will then spend a day or so resting and visiting family. He will ride back through Cheshire to Ironbridge, Evesham, the Cotswolds and finally back to Fleet. We plan to give a day-by-day update of his ride as it happens on the Fleet Pond Society blog (accessed via the links page of this site). So check out our blog early in July to see how he’s getting on.
May 16th 2010 : International Biodiversity day 22nd May at Fleet Pond
We've got a fantastic, free event for the public to celebrate International Biodiversity Day on 22 May. It's in conjuction with the national, Lottery-funded OPAL Project and will be an exciting 'hands on event'. The many and varied groups attending will be showing visitors what they do to help look after the environment. We hope this will inspire more people to enjoy and care about their local environment.
There will be activities to enjoy from Fleet Pond Society, Hart District Council Rangers, the Environment Agency, Imperial College, University College London, Hampshire Wildlife Trust, Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership, Fleet to Aldershot Wildlife Watch, the Friends of Brickfields Country Park, Hampshire Ornithological Society, Butterfly Conservation and the RSPB.
Activities are centred around the PIcnic Area but there's also stuff to do at Sandy Bay and Boathouse Corner. At 2pm there will be a guided walk from the main car park in which visitors can find out about the exciting happenings at the Pond over the past thousand years.
The event runs from 11am to 4pm at Fleet Pond Nature Reserve which is next to Fleet's mainline station and 5mins from Junction 4a of the M3. The reserve centres around Hampshire's largest freshwater lake which has important reedbeds, marshes as well as lowland dry heathland.
Download the event poster here
April 20th 2010 : Major event at the Pond on 22 May
Fleet Pond Society and the Lottery-funded OPAL project (www.OPALexplorenature.org) is co-organising a local event at the Pond to celebrate International Biodiversity Day in this UN International Year of Biodiversity. Quite a coup for us. Hopefully we'll be able to get lot's of local groups there too.
We intend this to be an exciting 'hands on event'. It will give everyone a chance to explain what they do and inspire more people to enjoy and care about their local environment. We'd expect to attract several hundred people and families to the event.
The event will run 11:00 to 16:00 at Fleet Pond Nature Reserve (www.fleetpondsociety.co.uk and http://fleetpond.wordpress.com/) which is next to Fleet's mainline station and 5mins from Junction 4a of the M3. The reserve centres around Hampshire's largest freshwater lake which has important reedbeds, marshes as well as lowland dry heathland. It's quite a coup to get the £12m Lottery-funded project OPAL down to Hampshire - usually their annual event is in the Royal Parks!
We've asked EA if they could do some fishing-related biodiversity stuff and NE something related to the Thames Basin Heaths. The OPAL Air and Water Centres will be there. We will have a professional photographer with us from 1.30 to 2.30. So you may end up on OPAL's website or annual report!
Please contact colin@fleetpondsociety.co.uk or 01252 616183 if you're a group who'd like to come along
January 28th 2010 : Young Person of the Year 2009
Richard Bennett, a Fleet Pond Society volunteer was nominated for the Young Person of the Year award organised by Fleet
Festivities Partnership and funded as joint project with Hart District Council Community and Partnerships and Hart Youth Partnership.
All at Fleet Pond Society were delighted when he won.
Richard is pictured receiving his award—in the snow—from Sharyn Wheale whilst he was on university holiday over the new year, also pictured are Colin Gray,Geoff Dee & Cathy Holden.
January 26th 2010 : Fleet Pond Society Christmas Card competition
Fleet Pond Society is running a competition to find photographs that will be printed as Christmas cards and sold in order to raise funds for the society.
The winners will be credited on the cards and will receive a free pack of Fleet Pond Society Christmas cards as their prize.
The photographs can have been taken in previous years, and must be of Fleet Pond Nature Reserve.
The entry fee is £3:00 per person.
Please contact Vicki Jull on vickijull@ntlworld.com for further information or download the entry form here.
January 20th 2010 : Fleet Pond Society Curry evening a big success
A packed Gulshan restaurant enjoyed excellent food and hospitality in aid of the Carnival Bridge replacement.
A big thank you to all at the restaurant and those of you who came along.
There's still plenty of money to be raised, though, so feel free to send contributions (or purchase FPS clothing)!
December 29th 2009 : Fleet Pond Society article in Hampshire Life Magazine
The January 2010 issue of Hampshire Life magazine includes an article on Fleet Pond Society and its work.
You can see a larger extract of the article here or buy the magazine!
December 3rd 2009 : Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Fleet Pond Society will take place at 7.15pm on Saturday 20th February 2010 at the St. P & J Church Hall, Kings Road, Fleet.
We would like to encourage Members to attend, as this is your opportunity to put questions to the Executive Committee and to share your views on the future of Fleet Pond Nature Reserve.
Nominations are required for the election of Officers and Members to the Executive Committee.
For more information - Download this document
November 1st 2009 : Bats for Halloween
Just to prove we at FPS are in the Halloween mood, we put up eight bat boxes recently, in the wood just west of the Green.
We are hoping to provide roosts for Brown long-eared bats, Pipistrelles and who knows what else?
October 21st 2009 : Join us for a Curry for Carnival Bridge
The Pond Society invite you to the hottest event of the year at the Gulshan restaurant in Fleet, at 7.30pm on 19 January, 2010.
Tickets are £15 in advance. So blow away those winter blues, invite your friends and contact Jim Storey for your tickets.
August 10th 2009 : Dog attacks at Fleet Pond
Fleet Pond Society was recently informed about a large dog that has been attacking other dogs, even when held on a lead.
Both Hart District Council and our local police have been informed, have spoken to the owner and are working with the owner towards a solution. Their first inclination was to have the dog destroyed but do try to avoid such extreme measures if it is felt there are acceptable alternatives. Training of both owner and dog is being tried and results will determine future action.
July 19th 2009 : Cattle at Fleet Pond
In an ongoing natural grazing project, Alexandra and Hyacinth are this year at Fleet Pond - You may see them grazing in the fields around the Pond on your travels.
July 11th 2009 : Fleet Pond Society at the Fleet Carnival
FPS Members were out in the Fleet Carnival procession today.
The theme was Food and so, in honour of the Pond's origin as as fishery for the Bishop of Winchester, they dressed as Monks to collect money for charity and dole out sweets to the children.
Their efforts scooped a 3rd prize in the Private Entrants category.
They then went on to celebrate their success in a manner I'm sure the Bishop wouldn't have approved of!
June 24th 2009 : Heritage on your doorstep event - September 12th
Fleet and Crookham have a fascinating history that may not be obvious at first glance, and a display at Fleet Library on 12 September will show how the area has developed from Roman times through the 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries to the place we live in today.
The event is part of the Heritage Open Days, England’s biggest voluntary cultural event, and takes place on Saturday 12 September at Fleet Library from 9.30am until 4.30pm. Activities include fascinating display materials, a children's quiz and a mini town trail.
Three popular local interest groups – Fleet & Church Crookham Society, Fleet & Crookham Local History Group and Fleet Pond Society – have combined their knowledge to put the event together. Gillian Wain, representing the three groups, said, “Heritage Open Days celebrates England's fantastic architecture and culture at events across the country. Our display at the library and our mini Fleet town trail will show the changes that Fleet, Church Crookham and Crookham have seen over the centuries, and should prove very interesting. Come along and discover the heritage on your doorstep!”
Heritage Open Days is England’s biggest voluntary cultural event. More than 3,500 historic and unusual buildings open their doors to the public for free and put on tours and events during the second weekend in September. 90 per cent of the population live within 30 minutes of a Heritage Open Days event. More information is available from www.heritageopendays.org.uk.
For more information about the event please email us
May 28th 2009 : Lynx, Lucas and Lego at Fleet Pond.
Here are pictures of Lynx, Lego and Lucas who arrived on Wood Lane Heath yesterday.
They obviously love having their photo taken and are standing in order of their names for role call! They are young males and full of energy, so will be brilliant at grazing the wet heath.
April 28th 2009 : NEW BOOKLET: FLEET POND SOCIETY - THE FIRST 30 YEARS by Society President Peter Martin.
As you may have seen from local newspapers, the above booklet has now been printed and is available from
Peter Martin 17 Longmead,
at £3 per copy (add £1 if you want it posted).
In order to avoid using Society funds, which are raised to help protect and enhance Fleet Pond Nature Reserve, the printing costs were raised by sponsorship and special thanks are due to the following:
The booklet begins with a Foreword by the Society’s Patron, Chris Packham.
The booklet is a “must have” for all who have supported the efforts of the Society over many years and would like a reminder of its achievements. For newer Members, it will help to paint a picture of what our volunteers have done. It deals with the reasons for forming the Society, what happened in the early years, how the footpaths were constructed, the installation of the bridges and landing stage, pollution incidents, wildlife rescues, voluntary wardening, fire fighting, fund raising, the Twinning and the conservation working parties. It is not only a historical record of what the Society has accomplished; it is a tribute to all that the volunteers have done to make sure that the flora and fauna within the Reserve is protected, whilst still providing an area for quiet enjoyment for local residents.
All monies received from sales will go into the Society’s funds for the protection and enhancement of Fleet Pond Nature Reserve.
April 8th 2009 : Upgrades to the footpaths
Good news for walkers at Fleet Pond.
The Fleet Pond Society have £1,000 to spend on the footpath from Gelvert Bridge to the Coldstream end of the Sandy Bay boardwalk.
Colin will need to write a cheque for the supplier as soon as this award cheque arrives.
We are hoping there will be enough material to continue the path to the first rise up onto the upper Sandhills path.
January 25th 2009 : Fleet Pond Society AGM and Garden Party
The AGM will take place on 21st February, 2009 at SS Philip’s & James’s Church Hall, Kings Road, Fleet at 7:15PM.
As well as the AGM, the 2008 Photographic Competition awards will be presented and the entries displayed.
And.. a little later in the year, but one for your diary, the Fleet Pond Society Garden Party will take place on
Saturday 13th June 2009 between 11.00am to 4.00pm at Grasmere, 35 Chestnut Grove, Fleet.
Lots of bargains, plant stall, cake stall, bric-a-brac and games for kids of all ages.
All are welcome—so come along, enjoy the day and help us raise funds for the pond.
September 20th 2008 : Fleet Pond Blog
Not that new, but we have just added a link to the Fleet Pond Blog to the site.
You can find the blog at http://fleetpond.wordpress.com/.
July 23rd 2008 : Air Ambulance lands at Fleet Pond
Colin Gray had a close encounter at Fleet Pond.
Excitement at the pond this morning around 11.30 a.m. I was out inspecting the work site for the employee volunteers visit on 30th July when a helicopter arrived flying lower and lower. The pilot tried to land on Fugelmere Marsh but wisely gave up the attempt and landed at Sandy Bay. Three paramedics disembarked in a hurry and the leading one asked me where they could find Kenilworth Road. Off they dashed followed quickly by the pilot.
Later I met them coming back and there was an ambulance and a paramedic car at the junction with Westover and Fugelmere. Three green-clothed paramedics asked me where the helicopter had landed and rushed of after them. I was not told what the problem was but it was obviously pretty urgent. June 23rd 2008 : Cattle at Fleet Pond
Once again there are cattle grazing at Fleet Pond as part of the natural management project.
We now have two Belted Galloways at Wood Lane Heath!
They are Murray (the black and white one), who was with the girls at Elvetham Heath last year, and then joined the boys at the end of the summer when Foot and Mouth meant he
couldn't go back to the farm.
His girl friend is Jessie (the dun one) and he is very interested in her indeed, so we may have a Fleet Pond conceived calf to boast about next year! April 6th 2008 : Snow at Fleet Pond
Snow in our part of England is unusual these days and to have enough to settle is even more so.
We woke up this morning to see a covering of snow in our garden, so I nipped down to the Pond and took some photos.
The water obviously kept the temperatures up a little, as the snow was thinner on the ground around the pond, but the trees were heavy with snow and there
were plenty of people out enjoying the beautiful scenery that the snow produced.
November 2007 : Fleet Pond Restoration Programme
Hart District Council has employed contractors ENTEC to draft a Framework Project for the restoration of Fleet Pond - Read the full report here.
July 2007 : KAY NEWBY BOOKLET ON FOX CUB FOSTERING
Kay Newby has put together all her experiences with fostering and feeding foxes into a little book.
There are some good photos in it and the story would appeal to anyone who welcomes foxes to their gardens or just likes them. It sells for £1 a copy with funds going to FPS.
Contact Barbara Martin if you are interested in a copy.
June 2007 : LIONS JOIN THE ACTION IN THE RAIN
Despite steady rain all morning, a team of twelve volunteers, including four Fleet Lions, joined the Path Patch task at Fleet Pond on 13th May. Dripping but unbowed the team repaired breaches in the Gelvert Stream banks that threatened to erode the footpath.
Once more the newly acquired tractor proved it was up to the task and moved four trailer loads of sand from Sandy Bay to fill in the gaps, faced with willow poles interwoven with willow and holly saplings. It is hoped that the willow will root to consolidate the repairs.
This was the first time that Fleet Lions had had the opportunity to meet the tractor, for which they had helped to raise funds, and to see it in action. They had been unable to attend the launch ceremony back in March. Jim Storey, Fleet Lion team leader, said: “The tractor and tipping trailer was a great help to our work. We all looked like Water Voles at the end of the day, but we had a lot of fun.”
This was the second of two tasks under the banner ACTION EARTH organised by Community Service Volunteers, Environment, and sponsored by Morrisons’ Supermarkets. This is an annual event and Fleet Pond Society volunteers are regular participants. Society chairman, Colin Gray said: “CSV is the UK’s leading volunteer organisation and we are pleased to support their efforts to encourage local people to take an active part in volunteering activities which bring benefits to the local community.”
Details of activities under the Action Earth banner can be found at www.csv.org.uk and for more information about Fleet Pond and the Society contact Colin Gray at colin@fleetpondsociety.co.uk or visit the website www.fleetpondsociety.co.uk
May 2007 : Hartford Park, Pyestock.
Members who attended the AGM will recall that I mentioned that a new planning application was pending for redevelopment of the old NGTE site at Pyestock. The Developers, Prudential Properties Investment Management, wish to redevelop the site as a major warehousing and distribution facility, which would mean a large number of HGV movements daily, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The developer suggests this might be some 600 per day but research by the campaign group Stop Pyestock Blot – Act Now (SPLAT) have estimated a figure more like 1,500. Whatever figure is nearer the truth it is a lot of HGVs moving between the M3 and Pyestock and probably even more, smaller vans and lorries distributing goods via local roads.
Local residents are concerned at the level of light pollution, noise and air pollution that is likely to be generated by this site, and about road congestion and the overall impact on our local environment should the application be approved. It is currently being assessed by Hart District Council under planning application reference 07/00764/MAJOR and full details can be found by visiting the Hart DC website www.hart.gov.uk and following links to planning online.
I would strongly recommend that you look at this application and make your views known to the Council either by letter, e-mail or using the website facility.
Fleet Pond Society has discussed this application at the Executive Committee and at the AGM. The Society must assess the potential impact on the nature reserve and the wildlife to which it gives sanctuary. In this respect we lodged concerns at potential impacts of light pollution from a 24 hour operation, potential noise levels and expressed concern that strong measures must be taken to ensure that no vehicle washing materials or oils spills could escape the site into the streams and ditches on adjacent land that might find its way into Fleet Pond or Cove Brook.
We felt that potential impacts on traffic and local residents would be best addressed by SPLAT, Fleet & Crookham Civic Society and the residents themselves. It is a fact that a large number of letters has a greater influence on the Council decision than one letter from one organisation.
Please do look at this application and make your own views known. Letters count.
April 2007 : BAMBOO BASH AT BROOKLY STREAM
The newly acquired tractor and trailer for Fleet Pond’s volunteer force proved its value when volunteers tackled a large spread of bamboo that was threatening to take over the bank of the Brookly Stream. Three trailer loads of cut bamboo stems and roots were ferried back to the workshop for disposal when volunteers took part in the first of two projects of 2007 under the Action Earth banner. Action Earth is a country-wide scheme organised by Community Service Volunteers and sponsored in 2007 by Morrison’s supermarkets. The scheme encourages groups to attract volunteers to help in community projects and modest financial grants are available to help with essential tools and materials.
Twelve volunteers donned wellies and wielded loppers, spades and mattocks to tackle the dense bamboo thicket and dig out the tough roots. Leader Dave Buckler said: “If we had not had the tractor we would have had the task of carrying large bundles of bamboo away from the site by hand. The stream runs along the rear of several private gardens and burning on site was not an option. We always have to think of the neighbours when bonfires might otherwise solve a problem of disposal.”
April 2007 : TRACTOR LAUNCH AT FLEET POND.
Donors and benefactors gathered at Hart Countryside Workshop in Fleet to launch the Kubota 1410 tractor purchased for use by volunteers and the rangers at the Fleet Pond nature reserve. The purchase of the two-year old Kubota and a brand new trailer was made possible by a £3,000 grant from the Rushmoor Borough Council/ TAG Farnborough Airport Ltd Environment Fund, £1,000 from the Cayo Foundation arranged by James Arbuthnot MP, £250 donated by Fleet Lions and £540 from Fleet Pond Society Funds.
A further £10,000 from the Environment Fund will be used to fund preparatory work for the Restoration Programme for Fleet Pond.
Roger Walker, Director of Operations at TAG, said “We are delighted that the Environment Fund is being used for active environmental improvements and support for voluntary effort in the community. It is rewarding to see first hand how the fund is being used.” Roger, dressed for the office rather than the outdoors, declined the offer to drive the tractor but James Arbuthnot took a turn at the wheel and declared it: “Definitely fit for purpose.” Councillor Paul Einchcomb, Hart’s portfolio holder for the Countryside, also took a spin round the workshop yard. Paul said: “Hart Council welcomes the positive co-operation between the Countryside Service and Fleet Pond Society that has helped to bring together funding for a machine that will serve both organisations well in their activities at Fleet Pond.”
Attending the launch with Roger, James and Paul were Elaine Turner, TAG Events Manager, Councillor Sue Fisher, Pondtail Ward councillor and Steve Lyons, Hart Ranger. The launch and the refreshments that followed were organised by Fleet Pond Society. Society committee and members present were Colin Gray, Chairman, and Mavis Gray, Barbara Martin, Events Organiser, and her husband Society founder member, Peter, and Vicki Jull and former Chairman David Jones and his wife Joan. Colin said: “We wanted to thank all those whose contributions had made it possible to provide a reliable all-terrain transport for all the tools and equipment our volunteers need in their management tasks at Fleet Pond. This small tractor answers our prayers and we are very grateful. We welcome the support of the Countryside Service and look forward to sharing this excellent little tractor with them.”
February 2007 : New Tractor Arrives
Here are a couple of pictures of the replacement tractor arriving at the Workshop, its new home.
It’s a Kubota 1410 and replaces our old and venerable Yanmar.
Purchase of this more modern machine and a brand new, tipping trailer was made possible by generous contributions from Rushmoor Borough Council Environment Fund, The Cayo Foundation and Fleet Lions.
- note all photos received will receive an acknowledgement
Ready for the off!
Plus a chance to meet some of the livestock used to maintain some of these habitats.
The site is at http://www.flickr.com/groups/1501643@N22/.
We’re really keen to see what different people find attractive or interesting about the pond from a photographic perspective! So, if you have any good photos that you would like to share, please apply to join the group, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
There’s no need to be a member of FPS to join the group
They are Belted Galloway's called Knickerbocker (the largest), Malcolm (has a white back leg) and Macadamia (the other small one).
Any local groups are welcome to do something at this event. We're looking for hands on stuff but if they just want to come along and explain what you do and sell a few wares then that would be good too. And most of all - bring their chums as there will be lots for everyone to do. We'd be grateful if people could display and/or pass our poster around too. If they can think of any other groups who might want to come along, please ask them on our behalf.
We will be served a sumptuous meal of starters, mains, naans and rice chosen specially for us by Mr Chowdhury.
And if you're still hungry when you've finished what's been served - then just ask for some more! You can have as much as you like. There'll plenty for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike.
The event is to help raise money for replacing Carnival Bridge and for us all to have a great night out.
Contact him on 647650 or jim.storey17@ntlworld.com. They're going fast!
The owner had been unable to exercise adequate control.
The issue became much more serious when one dog received serious lacerations following an attack.
If you should experience any incidents of dogs with aggressive behaviour or attacking other dogs or wildlife, please report such incidents to the police.
Please give as accurate a description as possible of the owner.
Fleet, Hampshire.
GU52 7TX
(Tel: 01252 684828)
