Chairman's article
Once again it has been an exciting few months in the Park, also in Fleet. For our own big news see the article below. Over the last few months the number of Friends groups has doubled from 2 (us and Friends of Ancells) to include Friends of Calthorpe Park and Friends of Basingbourne. We are delighted to welcome the new groups and look forward to working together in partnership with them over the coming years. We have had two public activities; the first was our Easter Egg Hunt. We were so lucky with the weather (the main worry was how to protect the Easter eggs so we didn't end up having to hand out chocolate mess to the children) We had around 80 children attend who all seemed to have a lot of fun. This event is funded by donations. We were also very lucky to have Elliott Fairs from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight wildlife trust come along this summer holiday to run a Dragonfly Hunt & Pond Dip. Elliott was brilliant and we had a large attendance. It was really informative and great fun. The Orienteering course has seen a lot of action this summer. Don't forget that it is free to use it. Just download the instructions from our website. It is just as good fun to use in the winter as it is in the summer (and perhaps a little easier as things aren't so hidden) Our big news is that we entered the South and South East in Bloom 'It's Your Neighbourhood' category and were delighted to be awarded the top award of 'Outstanding'. We scored 37/40 for Community participation, 26/30 for Environmental responsibility and 27/30 for Gardening Achievement. See the separate article for the Judge's comments. We are very proud of this achievement, which has been gained through the hard work of our many volunteers. It recognises the efforts that the community are putting into their local park and we would like to say thank you to all of our members. We feel that it is an achievement for Fleet to be proud of. This coming year we have more exciting things to look forward to. We aim to continue improving the ecology of the park, with a brand new planted area near the football hut, designed to encourage insects and birds as well as to look attractive. We are also going to continue our work in the woodland. We are always looking for new members.
Sarah Horton Chairman
Dragonfly Hunt & Pond Dip
As the sun (mostly) shone and the wind (mostly) died down the dragonflies on Oakley Park Pond came and showed off to the group as they always do. We started the walk and were immediately greeted with a male common darter patrolling part of the pond, ready to fight off any other males coming into 'his' territory. This gave us a great opportunity for everyone there to see a dragonfly and chance for Elliott Fairs, of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, to talk about their habits and life cycle. This was followed by almost an hour of non-stop pond dipping which turned up result after result. Greater water boatman, pond scorpions, newts, diving beetles, leeches, water fleas and of course dragonfly larvae all appeared in the children's nets and were greeted by wide eyes and beaming smiles. The walk ended with a chance for everyone there to have a go at using binoculars to view the dragonflies as they flew over the pond. A great, and very well attended, day throughout. There are about 40 species of dragonflies and damselflies (grouped together as Odonata) that breed in the UK and can be seen flying from as early as April to late October. Each one of these species will have its very own ideal habitat that it needs in order to successfully breed and lay eggs which in turn will develop into adult dragonflies. These habitats could be a slow flowing river, a fast flowing gravel stream or just your everyday garden pond, but one thing you can be sure of is that Odonata species will find it and if it is suitable for them they will use it. If the dragonfly that finds your pond is male he will immediately declare it his territory and start to patrol it and ward of any other dragonflies that visit. That is unless the visiting dragonfly is the same species and female in which case he will try to mate with her. If she deems his pond suitable for her offspring she will allow him to mate and then she will start to lay eggs. Some species lay their eggs onto plants that are floating on the water's surface whereas others lay them into leaves that are submerged, it all again depends on the different species and the requirements that that species eggs need to successfully hatch. Once matured the eggs hatch into larvae which resemble a shorter, squatter dragonfly without any wings. These larvae can live under the water for between 3 months to 5 years depending on their species. During this time the larvae will predate anything they can, including each other and periodically moult their skin as they grow bigger and bigger. Once they have reached their full size they will wait for weather conditions out of the water to be ideal (warm and sunny) and then climb up some plants growing out of the pond, or even the pond edge itself, and then the fully developed dragonfly will emerge from the larvae as it completes its final moult. It then pumps blood into its wings as they slowly unfold and grow to their full extent. During this time the dragonfly is most prone to being eaten by a passing bird so it does this at dawn when the light is not so bright. When its wings have dried it will fly for the first time in its life and immediately go to set up a territory (if it is male) or will take itself away to some scrubby bush for cover until it is ready to mate (if it is female) and so the cycle is complete and then continues year after year. For more information on Dragonflies why not visit the British Dragonfly Society website or attend a guided walk which are run throughout the summer season across the Fleet area. Visit www.hwt.org.uk for date of future events. Elliott Fairs - Hampshire & I o W Wildlife Trust
Fleet Pond Clearwater Campaign
At 52 acres, Fleet Pond is Hampshire's largest freshwater lake and a fabulous local amenity. The Reserve's reed beds, marshes, heathland and woodland provide sanctuary for a rich and diverse community of animal and plant life, including many that are no longer to be found in an ordered, farmed countryside. The total area of the Reserve is 141 acres, of which 118 acres is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This applies to the wetlands, the lake and the dry heathland. However, time has taken its toll and the problem of accumulated silt is a real threat to the life of the Pond. A silt survey has indicated that the silt covering the bed of the pond is between one and two metres deep. To put it bluntly Fleet Pond is in trouble. The Fleet Pond Society Clearwater Campaign aims to raise funds and awareness of the situation. Society patron and TV naturalist Chris Packham fully backs the Campaign and presents an informative video on the society's website. Hart District Council, Natural England and the Environment Agency, and other interested parties are working in concert to gain funding for the restoration project. It was exciting to announce in September that the fund had passed the £500,000 mark thanks to £200,000 committed by the Environment Agency and £142,000 pledged by Natural England under the EU Water Framework Directive. Visitors to the Pond over the next few weeks will see the start of the restoration project, from small scale dredging to restore its depth in targeted areas, the establishment of a new stream channel for the higher flow of the Gelvert Stream, to the creation of new lake shore water habitats, new areas of reedbed and submerged plant habitat for fish and invertebrates. Jim Storey, Campaign Manager reminds readers that there is still much to do:
'The Clearwater Campaign aims to raise awareness and funds towards a variety of measures to reverse the Pond's decline and to improve the Reserve for the benefit of the local community.' ‘We are extremely pleased to gain these extra funds. The Campaign also aims to provide funds for areas not included in any other funding stream including projects of direct benefit to local people and visitors such as improved seating areas, a variety of new information boards, better footpaths and other public facilities.' The support of the local community is extremely important to the Society and the Campaign. Fleet Pond 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. For more information on the Clearwater Campaign and Fleet Pond visit www.fleetpondsociety.co.uk and the blog www.fleetpond.wordpress.com
Cathy Holden Editor Fleet Pond Society