Page 7 - Managing Partner Awards Shortlist
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Silverdale Country Park
This site is used by the Fire Service to deliver safety videos to schools nationally. Titled,
‘Safe & Sound’ the videos have been delivered weekly to an online audience of over 10,000
UK schools and homes. They have also filmed their ‘Meet the Ranger’ series at Silverdale
that educates children on issues and dangers such as; frozen water, vandalism, litter, wild
fires and picking up dog poo.
A collaboration with Keele University has seen the Ranger providing a guest lecture to a
class of third year biology students using Silverdale as a case study. The University opted to
use this site for their first and second year biology student field trip modules studying
wildflower diversity and abundance.
Collaborations also continue with Reaseheath College, with Brett Bowman conducting a
work placement with us in 2021 which helped him into employment in 2022. Reaseheath
also made five field trips to Silverdale as part of their Countryside Diplomas. Students learnt
wildflower ID skills, built hibernacula, managed early successional vegetation as well as hay
meadows and hedge laying.
Nomination for Site Delivering Best Economic Activity
Twywell Hills and Dales
Twywell Hills and Dales is an important wildlife site which has seen significant development.
Grant funding has been used to fundamentally change the natural structure with a capital
expenditure on local contractors of Circa £60k. There has been an introduction of Highland
cattle with the herd supplying beef to a local farm shop and the stockman as part of this
funded activity.
It addition to having a Ranger is employed on site, funding through the Green Kickstart
Scheme brought in additional funds and saw around 350 training activity participations on
site providing local young people with opportunities to develop skills and understanding of
aspects of countryside management.
On top of this, the Barista Bus, a local business licenced to operate on site selling hot and
cold drinks and snacks, now employs one full time person and is turns over Circa £60k pa.
Northumberlandia