Burnham Beeches Junior Rangers

Calling all young conservationists! Join the Junior Rangers and discover what it takes to care for a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Ever wondered what it takes to become a Ranger?

This event is part of a year-long programme held across Burnham Beeches and Stoke Common, featuring 10 unique sessions. Designed for young people aged 11–18, with under 16s required to attend with a parent or responsible adult. Activities range from habitat management and wildlife surveys to creative nature projects - each one designed to be fun, safe, and age-appropriate. Whether you're passionate about wildlife or curious about environmental careers, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn, explore, and make a difference. Junior Rangers will work alongside the Burnham Beeches Ranger team, regular volunteers, and community members in a intergenerational setting.

7 March 2026:

Join us for a practical conservation day where we’ll be carrying out a scrub cut and burn at Stoke Common.

You’ll get stuck in and learn:

• How to use hand tools safely
• Basics of managing and improving heathlands
• How to spot and identify the first signs of spring

Please refer to the Burnham Beeches Guide and Event Diary for future Junior Ranger session dates.

Where to meet:

This session is held at Stoke Common (North Common). We will be meeting on site at the North Common, you can find the approximate location using W3W///lined.sunk.slip or by clicking here. If you are unfamiliar with Stoke Common, the meeting point may be difficult to find. We recommend using the Google Maps links provided above.

Please note: The meeting point location may change. The final meeting point will be sent to you by email 2 days before the event.

What to Expect on the Day

• 10:00 AM – Welcome, introduction to the reserve, safety briefing and task begins.
• 11:30 AM – Tea break (refreshments and biscuits provided; feel free to bring your own)
• 12:00 PM – Back to work!
• 1:00 PM – Official end of session, with the option to stay for lunch.

What to Bring

• Packed lunch (if staying for lunch) and snacks for tea break
• Weather-appropriate clothing – long sleeves, trouser and layers recommended!
• Sturdy footwear – steel toe-capped boots preferred, walking boots acceptable
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Sun protection – sunscreen and hat if sunny
• Wellies – required for sessions at Stoke Common

Important Info

• Participants aged 16–17 may attend unaccompanied but must be signed in by a parent or guardian and remain contactable throughout the session.
• All activities are supervised and designed with safety in mind.
• Please make sure you’ve filled in all the forms from the follow-up email before you come along, it helps us keep things safe and organised.

Parking

Parking near the meeting point is very limited — the closest option is a small layby with space for only three vehicles, and it is usually full. We suggest parking on Vine Road and walking to the meeting point. This walk takes approximately 15 minutes.

Additional Info:

This event is free to attend, but we kindly suggest a voluntary donation of around £3 per person. All contributions go directly towards the care and conservation of Burnham Beeches, helping us protect this incredible National Nature Reserve.

If you’d specifically like to support the long-term management of our ancient trees, you can make a donation here.

Please note:

• One ticket must be booked per person attending, including accompanying adults.

Got a question? get in touch with the Burnham Beeches team via email or telephone: burnham.beeches@cityoflondon.gov.uk | 01753647358.