Cutting pines on the wet heath

Today the silwood park conservation group are out on the wet Heath at fleet pond cutting the pine saplings which are shading out the heathland plants. The wet Heath is a great habitat and lots of exciting species can be seen here including Adders, Ling and Bell Heather, Bog Asphodel and Bog Myrtle

Fleet Pond Easter Trail

Sunday 31st March (Easter Sunday) and Monday 1st April (Easter Monday) join us for an Easter trail around Fleet Pond. Drop in anytime between 10am and 2pm at the Fleet Pond picnic area and pick up a trail leaflet. Follow the trail around the pond answering clues and taking part in activities, and at the end receive an Easter egg. £3 per tail pack (includes Easter egg) For more information please phone the Hart Countryside Ranger team on 01252 623443 or email countryside@hart.gov.uk

Snipe at fleet pond

Common snipe at fleet pond. Much longer bill than jack snipe. When flushed they make a sharp call and fly in zigzags to confuse predators. In courtship they fly in circles and vibrate their tail feathers to produce a drumming sound this is called winnowing. The sound is similar to a goat and in some languages they are called flying goats.

Jack snipe are much smaller and when flushed fly without calling. They have a distinctive feeding technique bobbing up and down which is really funny.

The dredgers return

The dredging machinery has arrived back at the pond. They will be finishing the goose fencing on the remaining islands, dredge the area near sandy bay using the sand to fill in the holes in sandy bay and along the track next to the board walk. A sediment curtain will also be put in which will hopefully stop any silt coming in from the gelvert stream spread into the rest of the lake

Scrub removal on Odiham Common

Hi Its been a busy few weeks on Odiham Common whilst the rain holds off. This week contractors have been using a forestry flail to cut patches of blackthorn scrub on the southern meadows. 

These areas have been flattened by snow falls in recent years and spread out into the meadows. Part of the Higher level stewardship agreement with Natural England is to increase the meadow areas which this work will do. Any debris left on the ground will be cleared with an excavator in the next couple of weeks to allow grasses and flowers in the seed bank underneath to germinate over time. Whilst it may look a bit of a mess just now it will look great by the end of summer.

With the help of students from Lords Wandsworth College on Friday afternoons the Ranger team and apprentices have been busy at the north end of the common cutting an area of coppice. This is a really important habitat in the woodland. This area was last cut nearly ten years ago.

Watch out spring is well and truly on the way. Enjoy the great outdoors.

Red Admiral at Fleet Pond

There was definitely a hint of Spring in the air last week when I spotted my first butterfly of the season, a beautiful Red Admiral. This specimen would have overwintered as an adult and been attracted out by the mild weather to bask in the sun. I spotted it resting on the Countryside Workshop fence at Fleet Pond.

These are a common species throughout the UK, often spotted in gardens nectaring on Buddleias or flowering Ivy.

Roll on the warmer weather and more butterfly species to spot!

Ranger Leigh

Dead wood removal by the train station on 28th Feb

Dimension data at the business park will be removing the dead wood from their trees that overhang Fleet Pond by Fleet Train Station. They will have to temporarily close the footpath between the business park and the station while the work is happening, however the steps will still be open. Sorry for any inconvenience caused for more information please email countryside@hart.gov.uk or phone the ranger service on 01252 623443. See you around the pond Louise Greenwood