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