Pan Community Ranger project

The role of the Pan Community Ranger project was to help increase a greater community awareness and understanding of the countryside around Pan and the wider Island environment, by providing training and activities for local residents. By attending activities, participants were also able to build on existing knowledge, learn new skills, meet new people, develop a greater sense of pride for their local environment, and generally improve their health and fitness levels by becoming more active outdoors.

A range of activities were selected to cater for a variety of interests and abilities. These ranged from building nest boxes, guided walks, willow weaving, using bat detectors, and stream clearances to name a few. Over 250 people took part in the activities during the three year project.

Nest box building proved to be a very popular activity both in the classroom environment, and as an event open to all. The bird and bat box templates were cut out before hand and all the nail holes pre-drilled, allowing the participants to build the box simply and safely. Over 60 boxes were constructed and sited around the Island.

Walks using night vision equipment and bat detectors were also well attended activities, allowing participants an exciting glimpse into the nocturnal world of our countryside. With the ability to ‘see’ in the dark and listen to bats echo locating, This activity certainly delivered the ‘wow’ factor!

Residents were also invited to try their hand at hedge laying, a traditional countryside craft, practiced for many centuries. The process involves cleaning out the hedge, cutting and laying the ‘pleachers’, adding stakes along the laid hedge, and finally securing the tops of the stakes using a weave of hazel known as ‘heathering’. The Isle of Wight College and pupils from Barton Primary School also helped with this project.

The Pan Ranger project was funded by the Pan Neighbourhood Partnership with additional resources provided by the Isle of Wight Council.

Page last updated on: 26/05/2009