Fleet Pond Society celebrates 50 golden years in 2026

Cathy Holden from Fleet Pond Society shares the history of and love for the nature reserve as the society celebrates its 50th anniversary.

This year, Fleet Pond Society celebrates 50 years of caring for Fleet Pond Nature Reserve – an important local SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and Hampshire’s largest freshwater lake.

Over these 50 years, hundreds of volunteers have repaired footpaths, installed bridges, jetties, dipping platforms and look-out points. They have dredged silt and managed islands, along with a myriad of other conservation tasks, to keep this beautiful community asset accessible to both wildlife and people.

In 2003, recognition of the volunteers’ outstanding work led to the Society receiving the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (‘Unsung Heroes’).

And in 2008, University College London carried out a depth survey as part of the OPAL (Open Air Laboratories) project. It showed the pond measured no more than 0.8 metres deep.

As a result, in 2010 the Society launched the ‘Clearwater Campaign’, a partnership between themselves, Hart District Council, Natural England, the Environment Agency, MoD and other interested parties.

Following successful fundraising throughout the community, along with grants and major awards from statutory bodies, dredging began in 2012.

Volunteers then created reed-covered islands from the removed silt. A small group continues to encourage reed growth on these islands, keeping them free from saplings.

The reedbeds and heathland areas form priority habitat, and volunteers work tirelessly to keep them viable – and for the first time, volunteers have recorded Nightjars on the Dry Heath.

Over the summer, the Society organises a range of education and conservation-related activities for local youth groups, including Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Rainbows and the Boys’ Brigade.

FPS Chairman Jim Storey said: “The past fifty years have shown that there is no limit to the enthusiasm, skill and tireless work of our fantastic volunteers. We could not do it without them. Onwards to the next fifty!”

To learn more, visit fleetpond.org.uk

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