As the leaves begin to turn and a crisp autumn chill settles over the down, we want to take a moment to look back on an incredible summer and extend a massive thank you to our dedicated volunteers, affectionately known as ‘the Chasers’. Your hard work and passion continue to protect and enhance the unique beauty of the Cranborne Chase National Landscape.
Summer success stories
Our volunteers have been making a huge difference across the Chase over the last few months. Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, teams have been hard at work at Project Manna near Fordingbridge and Jubilee Farm in Damerham, fencing, hedge planting, constructing a large composter and raised beds to support local community wellbeing. From fencing in the atmospheric, ancient surroundings of Bokerley Dyke on Martin Down to helping local farmers through our Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, your energy has truly brought positive change to our local environment and communities.
Our volunteers have been making a huge difference across the Chase over the last few months. Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, teams have been hard at work at Project Manna near Fordingbridge and Jubilee Farm in Damerham, fencing, hedge planting, constructing a large composter and raised beds to support local community wellbeing. From fencing in the atmospheric, ancient surroundings of Bokerley Dyke on Martin Down to helping local farmers through our Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, your energy has truly brought positive change to our local environment and communities.
Looking ahead: autumn and winter conservation
With the bird-nesting season wrapped up, our focus naturally shifts to essential autumn and winter habitat management. In the coming weeks, our Practical Conservation Volunteers will be stepping up to tackle:
With the bird-nesting season wrapped up, our focus naturally shifts to essential autumn and winter habitat management. In the coming weeks, our Practical Conservation Volunteers will be stepping up to tackle:
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Scrub clearance and conservation grazing: Helping to restore vital, rare chalk grasslands at sites like Martin Down to safeguard scarce species like juniper and specialist chalk lovers such as adonis blue and chalk hill blue butterflies as well as turtle doves. Also assisting the rangers on local nature reserves deal with grazing livestock used to manage these special conservation areas.
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Hedge laying and coppicing: Keeping traditional skills alive while creating thriving networks for native wildlife, including birds, bees and the rare greater horseshoe bat.
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Community projects: Site improvements including creating planting beds, accessible pathways and rights of way clearance.
Join the team!
Whether you want to learn traditional conservation skills, get active in the fresh air, or help survey local wildlife, there is room for everyone to grow in our community. Tasks are flexible, full training is provided by our National Landscape Ranger, and it is a wonderful way to connect with like-minded people.
Whether you want to learn traditional conservation skills, get active in the fresh air, or help survey local wildlife, there is room for everyone to grow in our community. Tasks are flexible, full training is provided by our National Landscape Ranger, and it is a wonderful way to connect with like-minded people.
To sign up for upcoming autumn tasks, log into your account via the Volunteer Hub or email us at info@cranbornechase.org.uk to get started.
Thank you for your tireless dedication to keeping the Chase beautiful. We look forward to seeing you out on the downlands this autumn! We are currently brushing off the Dutch oven ready for our buttery, cheesy jacket potato lunches!