Fleet
Pond
Fleet Pond Local Nature
Reserve is located on the northern edge
of the town of Fleet, North-east Hampshire.
The total reserve area of
57 hectares (141 acres) is designated
a Local Nature Reserve. Within this, 48
hectares (118.5 acres) is designated a
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The Pond, at 21 hectares (52 acres), is
Hampshire’s largest freshwater lake.
Fleet Pond Society was
formed in 1976 as a result of the concerns
of local people at the deteriorating condition
of the Fleet Pond nature reserve. Two
public meetings were convened to discuss
the future of the reserve and it was agreed
to constitute Fleet Pond Society to address
the numerous concerns.
The first task was to complete a circular
path around the lake. This was done by
a large band of dedicated volunteers in
1978. The two bridges across the outflow
and across Brookly Stream were positioned
by volunteers. The bridges were provided
at cost by a local company. The volunteers
then constructed the boat launch jetty
at Chestnut Grove. This required significant
labour as the cement-filled sandbags had
to be hand filled, transported to the
lake edge by wheelbarrow and positioned
by hand into water almost one metre deep
A timber bridge was installed across
the Gelvert Stream to complete the circuit
In 1983 the Society changed emphasis
to address the deteriorating 'natural'
habitat diversity. A conservation volunteer
force was organised and a regular programme
of conservation tasks set up. The objective
of these tasks is to maintain the diverse
range of habitat types that makes Fleet
Pond a unique sanctuary for wildlife.
Rarely does one site contain such a wide
diversity. Open water, reedbeds, marshland,
heathland and wet and dry woodlands all
support specialised plants and animals,
many of which are becoming rare in Hampshire
The volunteers can only work on the wildlife
sensitive sites between September and
March. Other tasks are organised for April
to June. These will include 'rustic' fences
to protect sensitive habitat from trampling
or disturbance and providing informal
seating for visitors
Conservation tasks are held on the second
Sunday of every month from September through
to June. The holiday months of July and
August are a rest period for the volunteers,
but occasionally a special task will be
organised to address any problems. The
volunteers might be called upon, for example,
to help the rangers with tidying up after
a rubbish tipping incident. Special tasks
can be arranged for local youth groups
and community groups. For information
please contact Colin Gray
More Information can be
found at: www.fleetpondsociety.co.uk
|
