For several years cattle have grazed Elvetham Heath and Fleet Pond. Recently we have also started grazing parts of Hazeley Heath.
A ranger checks the fencing and cattle on the various sites every day, but we need people to keep an eye on the cattle at the weekend and evenings in particular.
Lookers are generally local people who use a particular site a few times a week for dog walking or exercise, and while they are doing so, they keep an eye out for the cattle or any problems such as damaged gates or fencing. They then contact a member of the Countryside team if they spot anything. It’s as simple as that!
It’s a great opportunity if you want to do some volunteer work but can’t give up lots of your time, if you want to get involved with the management of your local nature reserve, or even if you are thinking about working in the countryside sector. We have a dedicated blog for the lookers, which is easily updated via email and free training for everyone.
So if you are interested in becoming a volunteer looker at Elvetham Heath, Fleet Pond or Hazeley Heath, or for any more information about the grazing, please call us on 01252623443 or email Grazing.Project@hart.gov.uk or countryside@hart.gov.uk.
Monday, 9 May 2011
Friday, 6 May 2011
Odiham Common Springs into life
Hi everyone, now is a great time to get out and about and see Odiham Common at its best. There are lots of water avens out in the southern meadows near the canal and large numbers of flowers coming out throughout the meadows.
Some areas of srub were removed last winter to take the meadows back to their original extents and increase the native grassland habitat. The regrowth of scrub in these areas will be cut and treated over the next few weeks.
Once we have had some rain there should be an explosion of butterflys and flowers with the forester moth apearing any time from now on until the end of June. These day flying emerald green moths are well worth hunting out as they are so beutiful. Look for them on pink or purple flowers such as ragged robin and knap weed.
For more information on the Common see the Odiham Common web page at www.hart.gov.uk in the leisure section.
Some areas of srub were removed last winter to take the meadows back to their original extents and increase the native grassland habitat. The regrowth of scrub in these areas will be cut and treated over the next few weeks.
Once we have had some rain there should be an explosion of butterflys and flowers with the forester moth apearing any time from now on until the end of June. These day flying emerald green moths are well worth hunting out as they are so beutiful. Look for them on pink or purple flowers such as ragged robin and knap weed.
For more information on the Common see the Odiham Common web page at www.hart.gov.uk in the leisure section.
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Management Work at Brookly Wood
Important work is being carried out in Brookly Wood to remove invasive non-native plants such as Bamboo and Cherry Laurel. Invasive plant material will be cut and burnt on-site.
These species are extremely invasive and will quickly out-compete native plants. This invasion leads to a general degradation of the natural ecosystem of the woodland. These invasive plants typically spread from garden waste fly-tipping.
By removing these alien plants we will be improving the woodland for native wildlife. This work is being funded by Natural England under a ten-year agreement with Hart District Council.
The Fleet Pond Management Plan can be viewed at Hart District Council’s Website www.hart.gov.uk.
If you have any questions regarding Fleet Pond please contact the Countryside Service on:
01252 623443
countryside@hart.gov.uk
These species are extremely invasive and will quickly out-compete native plants. This invasion leads to a general degradation of the natural ecosystem of the woodland. These invasive plants typically spread from garden waste fly-tipping.
By removing these alien plants we will be improving the woodland for native wildlife. This work is being funded by Natural England under a ten-year agreement with Hart District Council.
The Fleet Pond Management Plan can be viewed at Hart District Council’s Website www.hart.gov.uk.
If you have any questions regarding Fleet Pond please contact the Countryside Service on:
01252 623443
countryside@hart.gov.uk
Monday, 31 January 2011
Rare plant returns after 21 years!
Water Violet, a rare aquatic plant, has returned to Fleet Pond Nature Reserve after a 21 year absence. Local botanist Chris Hall re-discovered the plant late last year. Management work was carried out on an old drainage ditch leading to Coldstream Marsh in the winter of 2009 by the Countryside Service. It is thought viable seeds lay dormant in the mud and that the re-profiling of the ditch exposed them to the light and led to germination.
Water Violet is a delicate aquatic plant of shallow water or wet mud, found in ditches and pond margins in clear, nutrient-poor water. It produces spikes of delicate lilac flowers in May and June. The name refers to the colour of its flowers but this plant is actually a member of the primrose family. It was first recorded at Fleet Pond in 1850 and there were many subsequent records.
Water Violet is a scarce wild flower in Hampshire with only three other recently confirmed native locations in the county. It is also regionally scarce and nationally uncommon, being mainly confined to lowland England. It has declined due to drainage, pollution, excessive management of ditches and recreational pressures on suitable aquatic habitats.
There has been a national decline in the number of native plant species and the re-occurrence of this scarce native plant after more than two decades is very positive news.
Tim Ackroyd, Fleet Pond ranger says:
“The re-discovery of Water Violet at Fleet Pond supports the need for regular biological surveys, which help to monitor the health of the pond. We can attribute the re-appearance of this scarce plant to careful management. Exciting large-scale habitat restoration work is being carried out at the nature reserve to enhance biodiversity. This work is funded by Natural England for a ten year period and includes improving the water quality and reducing silt deposition within the pond and restoring valuable marshland, reedbed and heathland habitats”
The Fleet Pond Management Plan can be viewed at www.hart.gov.uk.
Water Violet is a delicate aquatic plant of shallow water or wet mud, found in ditches and pond margins in clear, nutrient-poor water. It produces spikes of delicate lilac flowers in May and June. The name refers to the colour of its flowers but this plant is actually a member of the primrose family. It was first recorded at Fleet Pond in 1850 and there were many subsequent records.
Water Violet is a scarce wild flower in Hampshire with only three other recently confirmed native locations in the county. It is also regionally scarce and nationally uncommon, being mainly confined to lowland England. It has declined due to drainage, pollution, excessive management of ditches and recreational pressures on suitable aquatic habitats.
There has been a national decline in the number of native plant species and the re-occurrence of this scarce native plant after more than two decades is very positive news.
Tim Ackroyd, Fleet Pond ranger says:
“The re-discovery of Water Violet at Fleet Pond supports the need for regular biological surveys, which help to monitor the health of the pond. We can attribute the re-appearance of this scarce plant to careful management. Exciting large-scale habitat restoration work is being carried out at the nature reserve to enhance biodiversity. This work is funded by Natural England for a ten year period and includes improving the water quality and reducing silt deposition within the pond and restoring valuable marshland, reedbed and heathland habitats”
The Fleet Pond Management Plan can be viewed at www.hart.gov.uk.
Thursday, 18 November 2010
Fleet Pond Winter Works 2010
Over the past few years, Hart District Council’s Countryside Service and Fleet Pond Society have been working on improving the wetland habitats around Fleet Pond. This work has involved clearance of trees and scrub to allow wetland plant species to flourish.
As a result of this work, the marsh and reed bed habitats have been restored in several areas, with rare species of plants and animals being recorded once again, some for the first time in 80 years!
As a result of this work, the marsh and reed bed habitats have been restored in several areas, with rare species of plants and animals being recorded once again, some for the first time in 80 years!
Natural England has also upgraded the conservation status of the habitats from unfavourable to recovering. It is vital that this work continues to be able to achieve favourable conservation status.
This winter one HA of young secondary woodland on the edge of Coldstream Marsh will be felled in order to continue with our restoration work. Leaf litter and a layer of topsoil and plant roots will then be scraped off to expose the old seed bank of wetland plants. The resultant material will be banked up on the edge of the marshland. The trees that have encroached on the marsh over the years, shade out the wetland plants and reducing the biodiversity.
The area of young woodland is very low in biodiversity and has very poor wildlife value as it does not provide adequate habitat for birds, bats and other species that need trees. This work will allow the wetland plants to colonise once again and will ensure that a greater number of species can use this habitat.
The area of young woodland is very low in biodiversity and has very poor wildlife value as it does not provide adequate habitat for birds, bats and other species that need trees. This work will allow the wetland plants to colonise once again and will ensure that a greater number of species can use this habitat.
Fleet Pond has a new ranger
Fleet Pond is managed by Hart District Council’s Countryside Service and
Tim Ackroyd is the new ranger for the Nature Reserve.
Quote: Tim Ackroyd says: ‘I have been working for Hart District Councils Countryside Service as a Countryside Ranger for over three years and previously worked as an assistant ranger for Hampshire County Council based at Yateley Common’. ‘I have enjoyed the experience of looking after a variety of interesting sites over the years and I am very excited to take on my new role as Fleet Pond ranger’
It is a very exciting time to be involved in the management of Fleet Pond. The Nature Reserve is undergoing some important changes over the next ten years with significant restoration of habitats and infrastructure. These changes will hopefully bring about considerable benefits, both for wildlife and for people.
Tim Ackroyd is the new ranger for the Nature Reserve.
Quote: Tim Ackroyd says: ‘I have been working for Hart District Councils Countryside Service as a Countryside Ranger for over three years and previously worked as an assistant ranger for Hampshire County Council based at Yateley Common’. ‘I have enjoyed the experience of looking after a variety of interesting sites over the years and I am very excited to take on my new role as Fleet Pond ranger’
It is a very exciting time to be involved in the management of Fleet Pond. The Nature Reserve is undergoing some important changes over the next ten years with significant restoration of habitats and infrastructure. These changes will hopefully bring about considerable benefits, both for wildlife and for people.
Friday, 17 September 2010
New jetties installed at Fleet Pond
Hart District Councils Countryside Service has recently purchased 3 new fishing jetties for Fleet Pond. These have replaced 2 of the small old jetties on the northern side of the Pond which have deteriorated over the years. The third has replaced the larger jetty at Chestnut Grove. They were, installed by local contractors JDB, and are made from recycled plastic which lasts much longer than wood/metal, and is also vandal proof. There is also the small jetty next to Carnival Bridge which will be replaced in the not too distant future with the same materials.
Products made from recycled plastics have become widely available over the last few years, with many products including benches, boardwalks, signs and fences being used widely on countryside sites.
The jetties are used by many people at Fleet Pond; fishermen, children feeding ducks, birdwatchers, and people who just like to stop and admire to views of Hampshire’s largest freshwater lake.
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