Forest Town Nature Conservation Group (FTNCG)

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), Richard Smith (Vice Chair), Lorraine Dowen (Secretary), Josh Dowen (Treasurer), Alan Alberry, James Healy, John Gibson, Mark Fretwell and Phil Goodall.

Upcoming FTNCG Meetings and Events

Forest Town Nature Conservation Group meetings and events are open to the public and are scheduled for the following dates:

Thursdays 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th May 2018 – Heritage research and training with Matt Beresford
FTNCG Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Spa Ponds Fungi Talk DATE TO BE ARRANGED – SEE NEWS ITEM!

UPCOMING FTNCG WORK DAYS

FTNCG carry out volunteer work on wildlife sites. If you wish to join us then please contact us in advance via spa.ponds@gmail.com

There will be something for everybody to do to help improve nature conservation at Spa Ponds (weather permitting), including dead hedging, de-silting, thinning and pruning trees

Spa Ponds – Workdays (see Spa Ponds Facebook page):

Saturday 14th April 2018 – Toad Count from 8pm at the Clipstone Drive entrance. If possible wear hi-vis and bring a strong torch. See Facebook event.
Saturday 21st April. Meeting at 10am (Clipstone Drive Entrance).
Week Commencing 23rd April there will be some planting on Spa Ponds – specific times to be arranged. See news item.
Work is also currently being carried out on an ad-hoc basis – let us know if you want to get involved.

Rushpool Open Space – Workdays (see Rushpool Open Space Facebook page):

Nothing currently planned.

FTNCG News

FTNCG AGM postponed (and other news)

Hello again FTNCG Folk I write to inform you that the Forest Town Nature Conservation Group (FTNCG) Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for Saturday 28th April has been cancelled. We will arrange a new date and let you know in … Read More »

Planned FTNCG Activities (January - April 2018)

Hello to All FTNCG Members and Supporters May I start by thanking everyone who made 2017 such a very special year for the Forest Town Nature Conservation Group (FTNCG). I am very pleased to be able to share some … Read More »

Formal notice of FTNCG AGM (5th July 2017)

Dear Member / Supporter of the Forest Town Nature Conservation Group (FTNCG), I write to formally notify you of FTNCG‘s 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM). This meeting will be open to the public, and the formal business of the AGM will be followed by a short break … Read More »

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Spa Ponds Nature Reserve

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 White Gates 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

Walking around Spa Ponds:

Please keep dogs on leads near the ponds to protect the wildlife
The Mansfield InStep walking group organise walks around various sites, including Spa Ponds.
The Mansfield Ramblers‘ Mansfield & Sherwood Walking Group also visit Spa Ponds, sometimes part of much longer walks.
Walking guides that include Spa Ponds have been produced by: Warsop Footpaths & Countryside Group (‘Warsop Walks 9’), Nottinghamshire County Council (‘Mansfield Woodhouse
Heritage walks‘), Friends of Thynghowe (‘Walking Through Clipstone Park‘), Sherwood Forest Trust (‘Clipstone Park Trail‘), Mansfield District Council (‘Your guide to Local Nature Reserves & Parks in Mansfield District‘), Sherwood Forest Information (‘Kings Clipstone route 2‘) and others.

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
The BT MyDonate facility available via https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/foresttownnatureconservationgroup

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.

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 (see forms below)
Helping research and document the heritage of Spa Ponds and Clipstone Park
Spreading the word about Conservation and Heritage activities in Forest Town, and helping us promote the work of the Forest Town Nature Conservation Group