News
Big Build Project Day at Poles Coppice
Young Rangers is a National Lottery Heritage Funded project that engages young people in environmental education, practical conservation and outdoor adventure in the Shropshire Hills AONB.
The project offers personal development and recognition through the John Muir Award and AQA Unit Award Scheme, as well as pathways to the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Poles Coppice, a Shropshire Council owned Countryside Heritage Site near Pontesbury is a basecamp for Young Rangers and focus of a range of activities, including night-time bat walks, green woodworking sessions and winter woodland management.
With funding and support from Outdoor Partnerships one of the Young Ranger teams recently completed the first of several ‘Big Build’ projects, involving hands-on construction of a new dipping platform overlooking a scenic wildlife pond.
Within easy reach of parking and a picnic area, the dipping platform has been made with all-ability access in mind. For Young Rangers, the project provided an opportunity to develop practical skills – those required of would-be ‘old’ Ranger in fact!
Feedbcak from the young ranges "I really enjoyed the practical work on the platform. It was drilling and stuff! Because I feel like I can do it, it's satisfying and I can show others how to do it. "
Over the last year, Young Rangers has engaged over 100 young people aged 12-16 and has delivered well over 50 project activities, from wildlife surveys to hedgelaying, and everything in between…
And more outdoor adventures and wildlife-friendly project work will continue over the summer months. To find out more visit the project webpage
For more information please contact Project Officer, Joe Penfold, joe.penfold@shropshire.gov.uk.
Published by Shropshire Hills National Landscape on (modified )