New Forest and Hampshire County Show groundsman wins two Awards
Marty Meaker, newly appointed groundsman at the New Forest and Hampshire County Show has been awarded Apprentice of the Year and Conservation Apprentice of the Year by Kingston Maurwood College. The awards follow Marty’s completion of the apprentice ranger scheme. The awards ceremony took place on Thursday 28th March at the New Forest National Park Authority offices in Lymington, Hampshire. Marty received his award from Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre, Chairman of the New Forest National Park Authority.
The New Forest National Park Authority working together with the Forestry Commission, National Trust, Hampshire County Council and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust offer two Environmental Conservation apprenticeships each year over four years. Apprentices undertake a 12 month paid apprenticeship. College sessions take place at Kingston Maurwood College in Dorchester.
Marty’s thirteen month Apprenticeship with the New Forest National Park Authority involved several different placements based with a variety of different organisations including, The Wildlife Trust, National Trust, Forestry Commission, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and finishing at the New Forest National Park Authority. Through the apprentice scheme Marty has achieved level 2 Diploma in Environmental Conservation, a level 2 Award in Business Management for the Environment and Land-based Sector.
New Forest National Park Authority Ranger, Craig Daters, said: ‘The apprentice ranger scheme provides a fantastic opportunity for aspiring rangers to get the qualifications and experience they need to help secure a job in the environmental sector. It’s important for schemes likes this to continue to help protect the National Park in the future and support the next generation of rangers and conservationists. It was a pleasure to work with Martyn and see him learn more about the Forest he loves. He worked extremely hard throughout the 13 months and we wish him luck in his new role at the New Forest Agricultural Show Society.’
Following his apprenticeship Marty secured a role as groundsman for the New Forest Agricultural Show Society, organisers of the annual New Forest and Hampshire County Show. Marty started his new position in February 2019.
Notes to Editor
Information about the Apprentice Ranger scheme can found here https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/conservation/landscape-partnership/projects/apprentice-rangers/
For more information about the New Forest and Hampshire County Show please contact [email protected]