Welcome to our Newsletter and thank you for your continued support.
Letter from the Chairman
Hello and welcome to our first Newsletter of 2010. As I walked through the park today I spotted the first signs of growth from our Autumn bulb planting session. Irene, our secretary, tells you about this later. As this newsletter goes to press some of our intrepid volunteers will be climbing up ladders to install new bird boxes and check on the old ones. Later in the Spring, we intend to plant a hedge along one of the park boundaries. Look out for the call for volunteers - we will have a lot to plant! Council contractors will also do work to repair the banks of the stream. At the moment we are waiting to hear about two applications for grants that we have submitted. If we are successful, one will pay for a nature trail going through the woods. The other is for a permanent orienteering course. We are in the early stages of planning, so watch this space! We have a few events coming up in the near future. Our 'infamous' Easter Egg hunt will be held on the of April 3rd. It is free for children. On April 24th, Colin Gray will be leading us on a Tree Shake. Meet by the pond at 2pm to discover what this family activity is about. Friends of Oakley Park will be 21 this year! Come and join our celebration in June. We are in the midst of planning, but we hope to have an afternoon of cricket matches, a plant sale and a 'bring and buy sale'. A day to bring a picnic and the family! This year will be a year of transition when ownership of Oakley Park will transfer to the Parish Council. We are talking to both the District Council and the Shadow Parish council and we are all working together to ensure a smooth transition. Don't forget to visit our website where you can find our latest news and information. www.oakleypark.org.uk
Sarah Horton, ChairmanBulb Planting
On the morning of Saturday, October 17th a typically cool autumnal day, a working party gathered in the park wielding a mix of tools, from a dibber to long-handled bulb planters. The occasion? Our annual autumn clean up which we were able to combine with a bulb-planting exercise, thanks to the timely provision of 5,000 bulbs by Hart D.C. Committee members were pleased to welcome volunteers who came along to swell the ranks. Their contribution was very much appreciated and speeded the work along. While some members undertook the more mundane tasks of tidying up and picking litter from the woodland area, others - including several children - enjoyed the more creative work of envisaging drifts of bulbs and digging holes to bring the vision to life. Snowdrops were planted mainly in the woodland area and on the banks of the pond and the stream nearby where we hope they will make a tremendous display. Clusters of snakehead fritillaries and corydalis were planted near the notice board at the Albany Road entrance and along the banks of the stream near the play area. We have received enthusiastic comments about the daffodil and snowdrop displays of previous years and hope that this year's bulb extravaganza will lift the spirits of everyone who uses the park this Spring. Irene Bye SecretaryFleet Pond is in trouble
More than 30 years' accumulated silt threatens to turn Hampshire's largest freshwater lake into its largest muddy puddle. Working together we must restore the pond to somewhere near the former glory that gave rise to its status as one of the first nature reserves to be notified Site of Special Scientific Interest, and ensure that it serves the needs of the community and the diversity of wildlife for the foreseeable future. We intend to mount a vigorous campaign to restore Fleet's 3rd Pond. Hart District Council, Natural England, the Environment Agency and other interested parties are working in concert to have the restoration programme prepared and at least partially funded within the next 6 months. The funding campaign will draw on government and non-governmental sources wherever possible, although one body alone will not be able to fund, what is, a high cost restoration programme. Of equal importance is the support of the local community from businesses and residents. This is a very popular local amenity and deserves to be kept in the best possible condition for us, for our children and their children, with a balanced and sustainable ecology. You could help by raising funds, offering help to distribute campaign literature, telling friends and work colleagues or just spreading the word. Fleet took its name from the Pond, it would be very sad if the Pond was lost to the town and the many people who enjoy it.
Colin Gray, Chairman FPSOrienteering
In the spring and autumn of 2009, Southern Navigators Orienteering Club held a series of 'Come and Have a Go at Orienteering' events in Oakley Park. The events were advertised in local schools and held from 4.30-6 pm midweek. Children were given the opportunity to learn some basic navigation skills in a safe environment whilst also getting lots of healthy fresh air and exercise. The first week attracted 75 participants from ages 3 to 70+. We maintained a core group of 20 families over the sessions. Each week a new challenge was set - courses were up to 1 km in length and the time taken to complete the course was recorded. It is hoped the sessions can be repeated in 2010 - look out for information on the park notice boards. For further information about orienteering see Southern Navigators Sue Bett Southern Navigators Development Officer
THANK YOU
to Waitrose for the generous donation from Community Matters and the Raffle Prize for our Social Evening.