A group of rangers have “brough out the good biscuits” after winning a national award for their work at a beauty spot in Whitehill & Bordon.

Hogmoor Inclosure was recently named the Most Inclusive Site of the Year by the Land Trust at the group’s National Award Conference in Nottingham.

While the 54 hectare site between Templars Way and Hogmoor Road is overseen by the Trust, work is delivered on the ground by the Deadwater Valley Trust.

And the latter’s work has been outstanding, with rangers providing a range of initiatives, programmes and facilities to make the site open to as many people as possible.

The DVT supported SEN pupils from two local schools by providing three months of work experience.

The students achieved John Muir Award certificates after gaining hands-on teaching in baseline surveys, tree ID, scrub management, dead hedging and coppicing.

Less mobile visitors can also use an accessible off-road electric tramper to explore the site with their families, friends or independently.

The Land Trust and DVT also worked with the NHS, a disability advisory group and SENSE to launch a sensory walk using existing accessible paths and encouraging wild wellbeing to a wider audience.

And that’s before we mention the wellbeing walks, which provide opportunities for all to improve mental health, and the sponsored annual Beacon of Peace walk organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community which raises money for local charities.

“We were absolutely thrilled to win the award as it shows how much the team has done,” said DVT head ranger, Julie Reid, who was also named the Trust’s Ranger of the Year at the national showpiece.

The DVT has also announced their annual Duck Race and Business Duck Race will take place behind Britannia Close at the Deadwater Valley Local Nature Reserve on July 29.