In 2025 Stockbridge Junior Rangers celebrated 25 years of providing wildlife, conservation and environmental education to young people in Knowsley one of Merseyside’s most deprived areas.
Celebrating 25 years of vital work by Stockbridge Junior Rangers and Littlewoods of Stockbridge Association
Celebrating 25 years of providing wildlife, conservation and environmental education to young people in Knowsley
Volunteer Phil Parry tells us all about celebrating 25 years of young people taking action for nature on their doorstep
Celebrating 25 years of providing wildlife, conservation and environmental education to young people in Knowsley
In 1999 a group of like-minded individuals got together in Stockbridge Village and decided to do something about the local woodland which was suffering from, fly tipping, dumping of burnt-out stolen cars and antisocial behaviour.
In 2000 the Little Woods of Stockbridge Association (LWSA) was formed and as part of its remit it was decided to involve local children in woodland clean ups and educational activities in and around the woodland. The Stockbridge Junior Rangers was formally started with children recruited from local schools ages ranging from 7 to 11 years.
Over the years the Junior Rangers have had many members. We meet twice per month in the woodland, or at our allotment site. Some have only attended meetings for a year or two others stayed with the group for longer periods. Some eventually progressing from Junior Rangers to Junior Helpers when in their teenage years. We currently have 25 registered members.
Over the twenty-five years there have been ups and downs with membership but the group has always continued. After several attempts we eventually got the group registered as a Wildlife Watch Group in 2003. Even during the Covid years, we still kept the group going (lockdowns permitting) by posting on our social media accounts events like The Big Garden Bird Count. Butterfly Survey days etc the members could do at home.
Awards won for Stockbridge Junior Rangers and Littlewoods of Stockbridge Association's work
Many awards have been received by the group, from Britain in Bloom, various local authorities, Knowsley Housing Trust and the most prestigious award was in 2009 when the Junior Rangers received The Observer Ethical Award for Kids. The Awards ceremony was held at the Roof Gardens in Kensington London with four of our leaders attending alongside the more famous David Attenborough, Deborah Meaden and Colin Firth to name a few.
Planting a tree to commemorate lost members over the years
We have sadly lost most of our founding LWSA members, but the last remaining original member Lenny Osbourne attended our celebration event and planted a Rowan tree in commemoration. Many friends of the group from over the past quarter century attended our event with past and present Watch Leaders and Helpers, representatives from Lancashire Wildlife Trust (Cath Haddon). Knowsley Borough Councils greenspaces team, (Phil Hirst, Evie Berry and Gill Dobson) Mersey Forest (Jo Sayers) and past and present Junior Rangers.
We look forward to the group continuing and reaching our 50th anniversary.