Fleet Pond and Fleet Pond Society History in Pictures Part 5 Conservation Management and the Conservation Volunteers

1. Fleet Pond and Fleet Pond Society History in PicturesPart 5 Conservation Management and the Conservation Volunteers The voluntary work to maintain and enhance Fleet Pond as a place of beauty and tranquility for people continues. However one of the Society’s primary objectives is to maintain and enhance its value as a sanctuary for a wide diversity of wildlife. The nature reserve is notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its wetland and heathland habitats and designated a Local Nature Reserve. These designations make us all responsible for caring for and respecting the diversity of wildlife for which the reserve provides sanctuary, roosting, feeding and breeding opportunities and protection from damage and disturbance. Conservation Management work is designed to conserve and enhance these elements for as wide a diversity of wildlife as possible. Work that involves the removal of trees can be controversial. It is not readily obvious that trees can be a threat to habitat like open marsh or heathland by shading out sunlight and thus killing the ground cover plants. This can be explained to people by guided walks and talks. School and college groups are encouraged to use Fleet Pond for educational purposes to spread the word further afield.

2. David Jones was elected Chairman in 1982 and set about directing voluntary effort to conservation management tasks. Many of the wildlife habitats had deteriorated due to natural succession – that is trees had seeded into open heathland and open marsh habitats and threatened to convert all open spaces to woodland. Woodland has its own unique value but, to preserve diversity, the other valuable habitats for which Fleet Pond had gained its SSSI status needed to be recovered and maintained.

3. It was not all work and no play. To increase the awareness of local people of the wildlife value of Fleet Pond nature walks were organised.Here Mike Waterman conducts a Fungus Foray in 1982

4. Another awareness event in 1984.David Dimmock conducted a nature walk for the local Watch Group (junior section Hampshire & Isle of Wight Trust).Children featured in many later walks as local schools became aware of the value of the pond for curriculum studies.Guided walks are a valuable and direct way of explaining why management is required. Why we cannot just “leave it to nature” to look after Fleet Pond.

5. Conservation management must be carried out when none of the reserve’s wildlife is breeding. This means September to February is the peak work season, when working conditions can be wet or cold or both. These photos are from February 1986.

6. The plus side is usually a good-sized bonfire to warm frozen fingers and faces.

7. In 1987 the work of the volunteers was recognisedby the award of the Shell Better Britain Award which included a cheque for £400.

8. The hurricane in 1987 felled several mature trees and the volunteers had to turn out in force to clear footpaths and make safe dangerously damaged trees

9. Hurricane 1987.When a very large tree is pushed over by strong wind, taking the root ball with it, making it safe is a dangerous task. Once the weight of the top growth is removed the root ball will swing back into its hole sometimes quite rapidly. Anyone in the way can be seriously hurt. Extreme care is needed.

10. In 1988 another attempt at protecting the island wildfowl roost was made. This time a mechanical shovel dredger and bulldozer made a significant channel 2m deep and 2m wide.

11. This photo clearly shows just how shallow Sandy Bay has become and just how much sand would need to be removed to make any significant impact.

12. 1988 also saw an attempt to slow down the inflow of silt by the installation of metal barriers in Gelvert Stream. This worked for a year but, as none of the build-up of silt was removed, these proved ineffective. In fact the small “waterfalls”, created by packed silt behind the barrier, carved out silt on the downside, carrying that into the pond.

13. 1992/93: As experience was gained a more formal procedure was developed. When Neil Rands took over as Chairman in 1992 he appointed Colin Gray to organise the production of a Management Plan. With Chris Hall to advise on the ecological priorities and on management techniques, Colin was able to present a draft Policy and Strategy document to Hart District Council in March 1993. This was accepted and work on a full Management Plan could proceed, which would guide all future management work. The volunteer leaders would tour the reserve each May or June to assess what needed to be done and set priorities.

14. Surveys – a small mammal survey in August 1989 To ensure that management work is benefiting the wildlife we treasure, surveys are conducted to assess existing diversity and establish how we can improve habitats for various species. Wood mice, bank voles and the tiny, scarcer Harvest Mouse are all found at Fleet Pond.

15. !988. A view across Gelvert Marsh after volunteers had removed alder trees and alder scrub. The stumps show how large some of the invasive trees had become. Left “to nature” this marsh would have dried out to damp woodland and all marshland plants would disappear.Yellow Loosestrife made an impressive come-back in the following spring.

16. Conservation tasks always include a break for a warm drink and a cake or biscuits. Some Christmas-time work parties might include an extra treat.In 1994 Father (or was it Mother, hard to tell under that beard?) Christmas arrived with some goodies.

17. In 1994 volunteers held a Workathon to create a Picnic Site overlooking the Pond close to the car park. Several other groups joined in, including Lions and Rotary members.Steps were built to link upper and lower paths.

18. Everyone joined in building fencing along the top of the bank and making bench seats for the Picnic Site.Supervision was, of course, essential as the lower picture of Martin Sanders and Colin Gray demonstrates “Just a minute” I hear you say. “Surely a picnic site is for people, not wildlife?” Quite correct. However with a site as popular with people as Fleet Pond we need to ensure visitors do not disturb the wildlife. So we “manage people” by creating attractive areas that can take heavy use. This helps to reduce disturbance of the more wildlife-sensitive areas.

19. “Managing people” takes other forms. To protect the bluebells along the eastern side from trampling and crushing by walkers and mountain bikes, ‘post and rail’ fences are installed, using timber felled during wetland or heathland clearance tasks. These help to ensure people keep to the footpaths in sensitive areas.

20. ACTION EARTHOne of the first tasks at Fleet Pond under the Community Service Volunteers “Action Earth” banner in 1995. All are welcome at Fleet Pond management tasks – even the dog.

21. Conservation tasks can be extremely wet and muddy. Project Trident students from Courtmoor School clearing years of accumulated mud from Pool 4 in Brookly Wood. Note the Action Earth tabards. This is an annual Community Service Volunteers event in which Fleet Pond Society participates. Groups taking part can benefit for small grants for tools and equipment.

22. Thinning the tree cover along the northern footpath increases the amount of sunlight reaching the wetland plants. It has the added benefit of opening new viewpoints for visitors too.Another Action Earth task.

23. Southampton University Conservation Volunteers have been regular visitors for several years. In 1998 they dug a new pool in Coldstream Marsh. Adam Green, who joined the Hart Countryside Service in 1997, can be seen helping them in centre of the lower picture.

24. As the work parties became better publicised, they attracted younger people.Several local schools and colleges sent along students to gain points for projects like Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Project Trident. Cubs’ and Scouts’ groups earned community and conservation badges. The photo shows volunteers clearing sallow scrub and saplings from Jacob’s Ladder, at the northern edge of Wood Lane Heath.

25. Another Action Earth task clearing viewpoints and opening tree canopy along the northern footpath. The bonfire is always a great attraction to, our younger volunteers

26. Students from Robert May’s School working in Fugelmere Marsh removing invasive alder and sallow scrub to defend the marsh against tree invasion. A project linked to Pond Week 2001.

27. The Fleet and Hart Lions have always been enthusiastic supporters and workers for the Pond. Here a team is clearing an area of heathland at the Dry Heath in 2001.

28. Fleet Pond Society is grateful for the support given to the Society by many local organisations. Excellent relationships have been built up with Rotary and Lions groups, for example. This photo shows another pond-friendly group: Crookham Wives donated a new boat trolley and rakes to FPS in 2004.

29. We would not usually encourage three young people to work quite so closely together wielding bowsaws (!) but when a fun shot is required for the press there can be an exception made. 2003 at the edge of Bog Myrtle Glade. The tree survived.

30. Another Action Earth day in 2004. Students from Courtmoor School, Calthorpe Park School, Salesian College, Farnborough Sixth Form College, Royal Grammar School and other education establishments join work parties to earn Project Trident and Duke of Edinburgh Award hours.

31. In 2005 volunteer hours hit a record as The Star newspaper records. This record was significantly helped by the Southampton University Conservation Volunteers who sent a record 20 students to help clear scrub from two islands.

32. Fleet Pond’s popularity with people grows ever stronger and working for the nature reserve to “repay the pleasure it gives people” has attracted some local businesses to send teams for special tasks. Nokia Southwood offices sent a Helping Hands team to clear alder from Wellington Reedbed in 2005.

33. Conservation management will always be required if we are to maintain the wide diversity of habitats that Fleet Pond has. Manual and mechanical intervention will be needed but we will also rely on more environmentally friendly and “natural” methods. The latter involves grazing animals and has been introduced with excellent results on Wood Lane Heath.

34. Three young bulls (not cows as the article suggests) started the project in 2004.

35. Initially fencing off Wood Lane Heath caused some concern among local residents but Adam was able to explain the reasons for grazing and introduced people to the concept of grazing as a management technique for heathland. It is hoped to use grazing to manage wetland habitat in 2007.

36. Conservation Management is a continuing process. Fleet Pond Society has a volunteer task every second Sunday of each month except July and August.If you would like to try your hand at some active conservation management, please contact the Society. The website address is www.fleetpondsociety.co.uk or e-mail colin@fleetpondsociety.co.uk • There are less strenuous ways in which to help. • Just keep an eye on the nature reserve by becoming a Voluntary Warden (you don’t necessarily have to dress up quite like the cartoon) • or the Society always needs help with other tasks; fund raising events, wildlife recording, for example.