Junior rangers enjoy exploring the great outdoors at conference

The trust, which manages and maintains over 5,000 acres of Milton Keynes’ green space, welcomed 33 students from nine schools for the annual event.

Now in its fourth year, the conference brings schoolchildren together to get closer to nature and learn more about the responsibility we all have to care for our surroundings.

The junior rangers participated in all sorts of activities at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve, including owl pellet dissection, a team challenge which involved discovering and identifying mammal tracks, birdwatching and a quiz about The Parks Trust.

Pupils from Middleton School were the overall winners of the challenges and quiz, taking home a birdfeeder and bird food as a prize.

Junior rangers are urged to report back to the other children in their school about how they can keep their parks clean and full of wildlife.

The junior rangers were joined by seven members of The Parks Trust team. These included biodiversity officer Martin Kincaid, who gave a talk on the mammals found at the reserve, and community rangers Susi Jensen and Lewis Dickinson, who ran the birdwatching session in the afternoon.

Education Ranger and co-ordinator of the Junior Park Ranger programme at The Parks Trust, Amanda Bailey, said: “Our Junior Park Rangers Conference was a fantastic day which was truly enjoyed by all. The rangers are great ambassadors for The Parks Trust as they are so enthusiastic about the natural environment and what they can do to protect and support it, which was very inspiring to see. It’s hugely important that our children and young people grow up to care for and learn about their local environment.”

The Junior Rangers scheme is free.

Call the education team on 01908 233600 or [email protected]