Footpath closed

We have had to close the footpath next to Fugelmere Road Fleet Pond as a tree is hung up over the footpath. A tree surgeon has been called and the footpath will hopefully be open as soon as possible. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. A diversion is in place along fugelmere road.

The Dredgers Return to Fleet Pond

The dredging equipment will soon return to Fleet Pond to begin the next phase of the ongoing Restoration Project. This phase is funded by the Environment Agency’s ‘Water Framework Directive’ and Natural England’s ‘Conservation & Enhancement Scheme’. 

This season’s main dredging work will take place in Hemelite Bay, the area nearest to the railway station. The resulting silt will be used to create extensions to the Wellington and Northern Reedbeds (marked on the map), which will then be planted up with reeds.

Sediment will hopefully be taken offsite during this phase; we are awaiting lab results to help confirm where this might be.

Cressida Wheelwright, Natural England’s Land Management Lead Adviser says: “This innovative project will remove the silt that has built up over years in Fleet Pond, improving water quality and as a result creating a better environment for rare plant and animal species to thrive.”

A sediment curtain will be installed in Brookly Bay to reduce the amount of silt washing down the Brookly Stream and entering the pond. This will contain the silt in a small area near the shore allowing future dredging to take place from the shore eliminating the need to carry out expensive in-lake dredging from pontoons.
The Pond has benefited hugely from the work already done. Cllr Sara Kinnell, Hart District Council Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Environmental Promotions says:
“This is an exciting time; the new islands have provided a great breeding habitat for birds at Fleet Pond and marshland plants and reeds have started to grow on the new islands”.

The Fleet Pond Restoration Project is an award winning, £1 million project to improve the water quality, led by Hart District Council in partnership with the Fleet Pond Society, Natural England, the Environment Agency & the Ministry of Defence.

Colin Gray, Chairman of Fleet Pond Society says:
“We hope that in this season we can start planting reeds on the new eastern islands to bring more benefits to our wildlife diversity.”

Ashwell's Copse Chainsaw Carving

The ash totem pole at Ashwell's Copse, Hook will be carved by Chainsaw artist Will from Friday 22nd November 

Footstep Closure

The Concrete Steps at Fleet Pond from the T-Jetty to the Fleet Train Station car park will be closed from Sunday 24th November due to improvement works to the Fleet Train Station car park. Please use an alternative route. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Heron

Can you see the heron fishing down the Brookly Stream?

Rhinoceros Beetle

This is a rhinoceros beetle. They are herbivores, they are very strong and use there great strength and the projection on there face to burrow into leaf litter and soil. The horns on males are also used to fight for females. This beetle is a male, females only gabe a small bump instead of a full horn. The beetles sometimes rub their wing cases against their abdomen to make a hissing sound to scare off predators

Hidden nests

Now the leaves are starting to fall off the trees they unveil lots of hidden secrets like this nest

Bug Hotel

Have you seen the bug hotel at hunts common? This is a great way to provide a home for wildlife in your garden. It attracts bugs and beasties which in turn attract predators like birds and mammals. It doesn't need to be as big as this one just a pile of logs and leaves.

WE Restaurant Fund Raising

WE had a great time at the Fleet Pond Society dinner. Lovely food at the WE restaurant, Fleet and lots of money raised for the Clearwater Campaign

Bluebells at Fleet Pond

The Last of Summer Wine Friday Fleet Pond Volunteers were out in the fresh Autumn air working hard clearing bracken on the woodland edge at Fleet pond on Friday. Removing the bracken
gave more bluebells a chance to thrive last year, and we hope to see them benefit this spring now the sunlight can penetrate the soil. 

We aim to make the woodland walks around Fleet pond even more enjoyable by putting in the hard graft now  Ranger Rach.

Comet ISON

Comet ISON should be visible with the naked eye this weekend. The weather looks good so why not have a look. The comet has been named 'the comet of the century' it has been increasing in brightness over the past couple of days so can now be seen with the naked eye. It is now in 'full outburst mode'. The comet is heading towards the sun and could potentially brighten everyday until the end of November. If it lasts it could be brighter than the moon and even be seen during the day. The comet is so close to the sun it is very close to the horizon so hopefully can be seen at sunrise. A clear dark sky with open countryside is the best place to see it. Good luck stargazing 

Redwings

This is a redwing they are a beautiful bird often heard and not seen. They migrate at night and make a loud CEEEEP as they fly. They spend the winter in the UK feeding on berries and apples and they breed in Scandinavia. Lots can be heard flying over Fleet Pond.

It's guess the bird time what species of bird is this?

Long Tailed Tits

Long tailed tits are a very interesting species. Once out of the nest they moult all of their feathers unlike most species which just moult a few and then wait until they have bred to moult the rest. Long tailed tits take the smallest UK ring which is 2mm and only weighs 0.04g. The oldest long tailed tit recorded was 8 years 8 months where as the similar sized and weight wren is only 6 years 8 months. It is thought that the long tailed tit lives longer because of its cooperative breeding. This means that close family members help defend the nest and help with feeding. This allows the breeding pair more time to feed themselves and gives them a better chance of surviving the winter. The long tailed tit has a strong family relationship hence why you rarely see just one on your bird feeder 

Corvid roost

A great Corvid roost in the trees and electricity pylons next to Edenbrook Country Park with nearly 600 jackdaws and rooks 

Bird Ringing

Have you seen a ringed bird on Fleet Pond or in your garden? If you can read the ring number please report it to www.ring.ac

Beaver activity at Fleet Pond

A recent group of local Beavers joined Rangers Rachel and Will one Friday evening to learn about nocturnal creatures. They enjoyed the Fleet Pond mysterious and amazing woodland as the sun was setting. The beavers learnt about ground beetles, bats and other wildlife by doing a variety of fun activities. Ranger Rach.

Duck House at Elvetham Heath

Rangers Duke and Will were on the boat at Elvetham Heath last week. The duck house had gotten dislodged during the high winds. The duck house has been moored up on the edge for the past week to stop it drifting around. Duke and Will took it back out into the middle of the lake to anchor it for the ducks to use again next summer 

Egyptian geese

Have you seen the Egyptian Geese at Chestnut Grove. They are a beautiful goose species (my favourite). They were introduced to the UK in the 17th Century as an ornamental goose, which escaped into the wild and now breed successfully. The main population can be found in Norfolk. 

Male and female Egyptian Geese are identical in plumage but the juveniles lack the distinct facial markings.

Footpath repairs

Ranger Rachel did a great job yesterday and filled in some of the muddy puddles around the pond with hoggin we now need to wait for these to set and then we'll pop top dressing on. Hopefully it will be a slightly less muddy walk around fleet pond

Soil Sample

Rangers Louise and Leigh went out on the boat at Fleet Pond to take soil samples from the new islands to see if the sediment is suitable for the next phase of the restoration project which involves taking the sediment offsite. Fingers crossed!

Bird Ringing at Hazeley Heath

Bird ringing at Hazeley Heath we caught a nuthatch. This is an amazing bird he crawls up and down trees (unlike treecreepers who can only go up a tree and they fall down) feeding on insects in and behind the bark. This bird is a male because he has a rusty red patch under his wing where as females are buff all over their tummy



We have had a great bird ringing session at Hazeley Heath with lots of finches and tits. Do you know what species this bird is?

Woodpecker Nest

Unfortunately this branch snapped out in the wind and has exposed this old nest. It is possibly an old Green Woodpecker nest. Green woodpeckers mainly feed on ants they have such a large tongue (10cm) that it has to curl around its skull. The tongue has barbs on it to pick up all the ants yummy!

Late Woodpigeon Nest

A late woodpigeon nest can you see her?

Cormorant Fishing

Lots of fish in hemelite bay, which has even attracted a cormorant 

Red Kite at Hartley Wintney

Red kite flying over Hartley Wintney Central Commons being chased by a crow

Ivy

Ivy is a great source of food lots of red admiral butterflies use them as a nectar source before migrating and wood pigeons find them irresistible and can be often heard bashing there wings while trying to get into the densest parts

Swan Update

Good news the swan we rescued last week from being tangled up in fishing wire is doing well she is at chestnut grove this morning enjoying a lovely breakfast of grain with the other swans. The bruising on her foot has now almost disappeared. She was ringed last year in the swan round up so she has an individual number which helps us track her

Woodpigeon

A late woodpigeon nest can you see her?

Green Woodpeckers

Unfortunately this branch snapped out in the wind and has exposed this old nest. It is possibly an old Green Woodpecker nest. Green woodpeckers mainly feed on ants they have such a large tongue (10cm) that it has to curl around its skull. The tongue has barbs on it to pick up all the ants yummy!

Environment Agency at Fleet Pond

On Friday we had a great group of volunteers from the Environment Agency spend a day at Fleet Pond clearing scrub on the Dry Heath next to the Picnic Area. They did a great job pulling up all the small birches roots and all to help conserve our heathlands and stop the heather being encroached and shaded out by the birch saplings. They had a great big fire and luckily the weather wasn't too bad. Thank you for all your hard work!

Fleet Pond Volunteers

We had six new recruits to the Fleet Pond monthly volunteer group on Sunday morning! Every one worked hard clearing birch that had encroached on the Dry Heathland next to the Main Car Park. Now you can see the heather more clearly and the cut stumps were treated and roots and brash carefully burnt on our fire site. The picnic area was tidied up a bit after the recent storm damage too. Some of the Fleet Pond Explorer Scouts also joined us and enjoyed the hot potatoes and famous Mars cake!

The over grown footpath leading from the car park is also clear enabling easier access for wheel chairs and buggies.

Thank you to all who came and we hope you had a very enjoyable day!

Ranger Rach.

Would you like to volunteer at Fleet Pond?

We are going to be clearing scrub on the dry heath on Sunday for the monthly Fleet Pond Volunteer task if you would like to join us or would like to find out more information about the Fleet Pond Volunteer Group please contact the Hart Countryside Services on 01252 623443 or email countryside@hart.gov.uk

Odiham Common Update

Latest news Autumn 2013

As autumn sets in lots of work has already been completed on the Common. We managed to make hay this year on the southern meadows but it was not quite good enough to go as cattle feed so is going to be made into compost.

Contractors have cleared approx 1.8 hectares of birch scrub and hazel coppice in the last few weeks at the northern end of the main part of the common. Wood chip generated from some of this work has been used to fill wet muddy hollows in paths / rides so as to try and improve walking and riding conditions.

Whilst we have tried to keep disruption to a minimum unfortunately some rides have been muddied by the works but the ground has been smoothed over. Please be aware that it will take until later in spring for the ground to firm up in these areas so if possible please use alternative routes around these areas.

The hazel stools that have been cut will be fenced around to stop deer browsing and allowed to re-generate with a view to cutting them again in 8 – 10 years. They were last cut approx. 10 years ago. This sort of cyclical management creates ‘honey pots’ of wildlife value within woodlands. It may look a bit bleak initially but the longer term benefits are worth it.

As we head into November National Grid contractors will be clearing trees and scrub under the large pylons that cross the common on the eastern edge. This is necessary for safety reasons to do with the power cables. It does mean that the Common will retain an area of heathland which is great for reptiles, butterflies and other insects. Again this may look a little unsightly at first but will soon look great later in the spring and beyond.

All of the works mentioned above are part of the Common management plan and Environmental Stewardship agreement with Natural England. Further similar works will go on in the future.

Enjoy your walking and riding on the Common.

Swan with Fishing Line

We had a report of a swan with fishing line in its mouth today at Chestnut Grove, Fleet Pond. Rangers Louise and Leigh rushed down with the swan catching equiptment and a bag of grain. After lots of attempts Ranger Louise finally caught the swan and removed the fishing line from her feet and wings but unfortunately she had swallowed the hook so we phoned Tackle Up in Fleet and Simon came to the rescue with some forceps and removed the fishing line. We let her go back into the water and she looked very happy preening herself. Thank you Simon for all your help!

Wind Blown Trees Continued

Sandy bay and Brookly Woods at Fleet Pond are now open. There are still trees on the floor around Fleet Pond which will hopefully be tidied up soon and used to create lots of habitat piles. A few trees have come down in the picnic area, we will be tidying up this area as soon as possible, the branches will be left to be used for den building.

Wind blown trees

There are a few trees down around fleet pond. The rangers and the fleet pond society are out busy making sure everything is safe. For health and safety reasons we have had to close sandy bay and Brookly woods we are sorry for the inconvenience this may cause.

Good weather for ducks

Good weather for ducks today at fleet pond and lots of cormorant out fishing

Are there less birds in your garden this Autumn?

Are less birds using your bird feeders this year? Some people have reported that there aren't as many birds in their gardens. This is down to many factors but the main one is there is an abundance of food in the wild this autumn. Blackberries are dropping off bushes, limbs are dropping off rowan trees under the sheer weight of the berries and sweet chestnuts are covered in the prickly cases holding the yummy chestnuts inside. For trees we call this a mast year which is a tactic trees use to outwit their specific predators. Trees such as oaks and beech produce so many nuts and seeds one year that the parasitic wasps, deer, squirrels etc can't eat them all so some will live on to become new trees. This happens once in every 5-12 years depending on the weather and the other years there is hardly any nuts which keeps the predator numbers down. Beech trees this year have deployed a different tactic they have produce lots of the beech husks but when you look inside most of them are empty. This fools the parasitic wasps to laying their eggs inside but when they hatch there is nothing to eat, the population crashes and the next real beech mast year goes largely unaffected  so clever!

Rangers to the Rescue

An eventful start to the day with a report of an injured Mallard in Odiham. Rangers Louise and Adam went out to rescue him when they got stuck in traffic next to Odiham Common. A swan was in the middle of the road so Ranger Louise jumped out and grabbed it and we took it to be released on the Basingstoke Canal. We meet to Water Board Ranger there who explained that this swan had been missing for a few days, we found its family and let it go to be reunited with Mum, Dad and siblings. It probably mistook the road for a stream. We finally found the mallard and unfortunately he had a sprained leg but his wings and other leg are fine so we released him on Fleet Pond as we know he'll get lots of food there. Look out for a male mallard on Fleet Pond he might have a limp!

Water rail

Had great views of 2 water rails feeding next to the pond dipping platform at fleet pond. Have you seen or heard the water rails at Fleet Pond?

Fleet Pond Silt and Sandy Bay Works

In 2006 the Ministry of Defence authorised a programme of installing silt traps and filters on the Army Training lands at Long Valley, which has significantly reduced the input of silt to Fleet Pond via the Gelvert Stream. This was the incentive to produce the Restoration Programme which includes dredging much of the silt accumulated over more than 30 years.

At times of heavy rain it is inevitable that some of the eroded soils will not be retained by the traps and filters, but will be washed into the Gelvert Stream and be transported to Fleet Pond. The works at and adjacent to Sandy Bay are aimed at reducing to an absolute minimum any silt that might reach the main body of Fleet Pond.

The line of islands constructed from dredged silt along the reedbed edge to the right of Sandy Bay is designed to direct the flow of the main stream around the edge of the pond. This channel will slow the water movement and help to deposit silt before it can be carried into the centre of the pond.

The clearance works to the left of the open beach and in the adjacent reedbed are aimed at allowing high levels of flow in the stream to overflow into channels (known as braiding) cut across the reedbed. This will also slow water movement and the reeds will filter out any suspended silt before it reaches the Pond.

The islands and the reedbed channels will allow silt brought in by the Gelvert Stream to be deposited in areas which, in future years, can be accessed by land-based or shallow water based equipment. This will remove the need to mobilise high cost, heavy machinery on pontoons for dredging operations.

Autumn colours

The autumn colours are showing beautifully on Hart's Countryside Sites if you get a chance get out there and enjoy the amazing changing colours. My favourite site to experience the changing colours is West Green Common in Hartley Wintney what is yours?

Hedgehog volunteers

Lots of volunteers helping manage Fleet Pond this weekend. The Southampton University graduate group (The Hedgehogs) cleared one of the Islands (Fugelmere Island) which is opposite Fugelmere boat launch. These are all graduates of Southampton University. All now qualified and many work professionally in the field of environmental education and training. They started the Southampton University Conservation Volunteers visits to Fleet Pond while still at University back in 1998. The Hedgehogs did a great job and cleared the island of scrub to allow more reed growth to link to Fugelmere Marsh.

Also this weekend the SUCV ( Southampton University Conservation volunteers ) worked on cutting the reeds and scrub on Grasmere Marsh (Next to Chestnut Grove). This was the first time that this group had visited the pond and, because access by train is very convenient for them, we are likely to see them again.

Both groups did a grand job and are a very valuable contribution to volunteer activity at Fleet Pond.

Colin and Rachel enjoyed working with the motivated teams that got stuck in to the scrub in-between the showers.

Hen of the Woods

Ranger Adam spotted this amazing Hen of the Woods fungi this morning at Phoenix Green woods. Not to be confused with Chicken of the Woods, Hen of the Woods is parasitic on broadleaved trees, especially liking Oak and Beech. It is edible, but only tastes nice when it is young and fresh and apparently has a smell reminiscent of mice, which puts me off eating it to be honest!

Honey Fungus

Ranger Rach spotted this amazing ring of honey fungus at Fleet Pond yesterday. This fungi is a parasite of trees, it spreads using long black cords called rhizomorphs that look like bootlaces. These can be found beneath the bark of infected trees, on roots or in the soil, where they can travel large distances to infect other trees.

Fixing a kissing gate at Fleet Pond

Ranger Duke and Ranger Rachel are fixing the kissing gate at Woodlane Heath today, thanks guys!

Elvetham Heath Cattle

The three young cattle on Elvetham Heath are being taken off today to head back to the farm for the winter period. They have done a brilliant job all summer munching on all the scrub and vigorous grasses that can take over a heathland landscape if they are not controlled.

By helping us to control the scrub the cattle allow other less competitive heathland species such as Heathers to grow.

Thank you to everyone who helped keep an eye on our lovely rare breed cattle for us.

Scrub Bashing at Fleet Pond

A brave turn out in the rain for the Fleet Pond Society volunteer day on the 13th, we cleared more of the birch off the dry heath and managed to get it all burnt up, thanks to Michael and Nick. 

Thank you to all who came, including 3 new members!  We all got soaked but Mars cake and hot chocolate kept us going!  :) 

Bye for now, Ranger Rach.

Tern Islands

Today Last of the Summer Wine group Mandy, Nick , Geoff , Terry and Rachel braved the windy weather and cleared the rest of the Redshank off the Tern island and burnt it up!

The Tern island is now looking like 5 star Tern accommodation :)

We hope Ranger Louise is pleased :)

Ranger Rach.

Tern island cleared of scrub ready for next years nesting birds

Phone Box Make Over

The red phone box on Dilly Lane in Hartley Wintney has been taken away today for some much needed tlc. The phone box has been decommissioned by BT and fallen into disrepair. We'll be renovating it into an original 50's box and using it for interpretation! Watch this space!

Fugelmere Marsh

Apprentice Ranger Izzie and Rach were out on Fugelmere Marsh yesterday having a great fire getting through burning up the cut willow scrub  This will allow the reeds to flourish next year for a wide variety of specialist wildlife such as Reed warblers and Dragonflies.  There were so many dragonflies buzzing around us all day as the small pools created by JDB contractors in previous years are holding water well and allowing Odonata (Dragonflies and  Damselflies) to breed successfully.

Izzie was very brave as a beautiful young grass snack slithered over her welly when we sat for a break! And a large toad crawled by :) How lucky was that! Ranger Rach

Fugelmere Marsh Scrapes

JDB contractors are doing a great job creating scrapes in Fugelmere Marsh. This involves digging down to the gravel layer creating a small pond. Then gradient the edges which creates a great habitat for wading birds 

Felling at Sandy Bay

The trees to the left of Sandy Bay have been removed.  To allow the following:

• Help wetland plants and animals to recolonise this area,
• Allow water to drain through the reinstated braiding channels in flood events,
• Allow more light into Sandy Bay,
• Increase views from Sandy Bay,
• There will be further user improvements to Sandy Bay in the near future.

Kingfisher

Kingfisher flew across Avondale road this morning heading towards Fleet Pond down Brookly Stream  good start to the morning!

Hedgehogs

Just went to a very interesting talk by Pat Morris about Hedgehogs. Unfortunately they are declining dramatically. Do you have hedgehogs visit your garden? If you would like to do more for hedgehogs visit http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ which gives lots of hints and tips of how to make your garden hedgehog friendly.

Fungi

It's definitely fungi season out collecting ceps (porchini mushrooms) from my garden  yummy!



A perfect Fly Agaric it just needs a pixie or a gnome sat nearby 

Sandy Bay

Sandy bay looks amazing just needs a few more days tidy up. Now that the trees have been removed and wetland pools have been created it will provide a great habitat for wetland plants and animals. There have been lots of dragonflies visiting the pools today  The beach at Sandy bay has been widened slightly and the views are amazing

Royal Ferns

There is an amazing Royal Fern in Fugelmere Marsh  they are one of the biggest ferns which are often found in bogs and on riverbanks. In Britain the Royal Fern is widespread but local, much plundered in the nineteenth century: now only frequent on the West Coast and in the Norfolk Broads

Fungi Walks

The Fungi Walks at Elvetham Heath and Odiham Common are now fully booked, but there is still space on the Lantern Walk and Christmas Wreath Making Workshops! more info athttp://www.threesixfive.org.uk/countryside/guided-walks

We are planning the walks, workshops and events for next year. What activities would you like to do with Hart Countryside Services? All ideas welcome!

Clearwater Island

Terry, Geoff, Nick and Rachel went out on Terry's cruises on Friday and moved Redshank off the Tern Island and bunt it up on another island near by. With the new motor it went smoothly and most of the weed was destroyed. Great morning had by all! 

Drop Posts

Leigh and Louise oiled the carved drop posts on Hartley Wintney. Thank you Phil for the hart stag templates they look great  

Swallows

Lots of swallows are flying over Hart the past few weeks they are flying south for the winter. They gather in large numbers in autumn roosting in reedbeds, fleet pond is a great place to see them. In the 1800's people believed swallows went to the bottom of ponds during the winter as they were often seen skimming the water for insects and water to make their nests

Fugelmere Marsh works

There is lots of work going on in Fugelmere Marsh at the moment. The Hart Countryside Rangers alongside lots of volunteer groups have been clearing the willow and alder scrub, and cutting the reedbed.  We do this to stop the trees drying out the reedbed, also the reeds need to be cut on a 7 year rotation as each year the dead stems fall over and create a dense mat so new reeds struggle to grow.

This is a very labour intensive job as the footing is very wet, the reeds need to be strimmed, raked and then burnt.

JDB Contractors are also in Fugelmere Marsh felling the last of the trees next to Sandy Bay.  This area was once part of the pond, but unfortunately it became filled with silt, redds grew and now it is secondary woodland.  By felling the trees, scrapping back the top layer and creating watland pools we will hopefully encourage lots of exciting wetland plants and animals :D I cant wait to see what turns up!