Forest Town Nature Conservation Group (FTNCG)

FTNCG Logo 2015 Transp

The Forest Town Nature Conservation Group (FTNCG) works to improve nature conservation sites within and around Forest Town, including Spa Ponds and the Rushpool Open Space. Our charitable object is to “promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in and around Forest Town”. The Trustees of the charity are: Shlomo Dowen (Chair), Josh Dowen (Treasurer and Secretary), Alan Alberry, Lorraine Dowen, Mark Fretwell, Phil Goodall, Samantha Nicholson, and Dennis Platts.

Upcoming FTNCG Work Sessions

Spa Ponds Volunteer Work Sessions (starting at 10 am):

  • Wednesday 11th May 2022  (Identifying plants and trees in Zone 7 (Peel Wood, near Pond 4), including mapping veteran Oaks)
  • Saturday 14th May 2022 (Removing sediment from the stream between Ponds 1 and 2, identifying plants in the vicinity of the stream; raking leaves, sowing seeds and watering in Compartment 2 near the Chestnut Walk; and weeding the wildflower area near the Clipstone Drive entrance)
  • Monday 23rd May 2022 (Pulling Himalayan Balsam within and nearby Spa Ponds)
  • Tuesday 24th May 2022 (Pulling Himalayan Balsam within and nearby Spa Ponds)
  • Wednesday 25th May 2022 (Pulling Himalayan Balsam within and nearby Spa Ponds)
  • Saturday 11th June 2022 (Annual General Meeting at Kingsway Hall from 10:15 am)
  • Saturday 18th June 2022 (Identifying plants, trees, and other wildlife at Spa Ponds, especially around the ponds)
  • Wednesday 6th July 2022 (Identifying plants and trees in Zone 6 (Peel Wood, near Pond 3), including mapping veteran Oaks)
  • Saturday 9th July 2022 (Identifying plants, trees, and other wildlife around the Chestnut Wood)

We meet at the Clipstone Drive entrance to the Spa Ponds site. We have kindly received permission from the Whitegates Hotel pub (2 Clipstone Road East, NG19 0HS) for volunteers to be able to use their car park for our work sessions.

If you would like to join the FTNCG mailing list then please email spa.ponds@gmail.com and you will then be informed of upcoming work sessions, etc. Being on the mailing list means you will also be informed of any last-minute cancellations due to weather. We also publicise events (and cancellations) via our Facebook.

Spa Ponds Nature Reserve

Map of Spa Ponds Nature Reservation

Map of Spa Ponds – Click to enlarge

  • Local Wildlife Site purchased for the community by FTNCG in May 2014 and maintained by FTNCG volunteers
  • Free to access and open to the public (walkers, cyclists and horse riders)
  • Main entrance off Clipstone Drive, opposite Whitegates Pub, Forest Town
  • Medieval ponds with links to the historic Clipstone Park and to King John’s Palace in Kings Clipstone
  • Wildlife includes birds, toads, damselflies and dragonflies
  • Click here for a Google Map showing the Clipstone Drive entrance of Spa Ponds

Walking around Spa Ponds:

Donating to FTNCG

Donations to the Forest Town Nature Conservation Group can be made by any of the following means:

  • A cheque made out to: “Forest Town Nature Conservation Group” posted to: 25 The Birchlands, Forest Town, Mansfield NG19 0ER
  • Bank transfer to the Forest Town Nature Conservation Group bank account, Sort Code: 089299 Account Number: 65459324

FTNCG is Charity number 1157957, which means donations are potentially eligible for Gift Aid. Those making donations should consider whether their donations would be eligible for Gift Aid, because if they are then they should fill in a Past, Present and Future Gift Aid Declaration Form or a FTNCG Single Donation Gift Aid Declaration Form.

You can also buy Robin Hood Lottery tickets with some of the proceeds going to FTNCG: https://www.robinhoodlottery.co.uk/support/forest-town-nature-conservation-group

If you use Amazon to shop, you can also support FTNCG via AmazonSmile: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1157957-0

Volunteering Opportunities

FTNCG Members and Supporters are asked to help by:

  • Liking our Facebook page and posting photos of Forest Town wildlife to it
  • Becoming a member and coming to our meetings, events and work days (see above)
  • Making or growing products to share and sell
  • Recording and monitoring species at Spa Ponds Nature Reserve using the iRecord facility
  • Helping research and document the heritage of Spa Ponds

FTNCG Forms and documents

Click here for third-party websites and documents of interest to FTNCG members and supporters (including a list of FTNCG affiliations)

Facebook

FTNCG Contact Details

  • Phone Shlomo on 01623 640 134
  • E-mail spa.ponds@gmail.com
  • You can also contact us via our FTNCG and Spa Ponds Facebook pages