Latest Fleet Pond Society News
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.