About the Rangers

Moors Valley Country Park is a joint venture between East Dorset District Council and the Forestry Commission.

East Dorset Countryside Management Service

The Park and Visitor Centre are looked after by the East Dorset Countryside Management Service comprised of a team of Rangers employed by East Dorset District Council. They are responsible for the management of Moors Valley Country Park as well as 23 other countryside sites in East Dorset covering a range of habitats including heaths, woodlands, grasslands and wetlands and support many rare and endangered plants and animals. More information on these sites can be found on the Dorset for you website.

Forestry Commission

The Forest at Moors Valley is looked after by the Forestry Commission and is part of 8,000 hectares of woodland and heath they manage in Dorset and South Wiltshire. For more information on how you can enjoy our forests locally and nationally and to find out more about the work of the Forestry Commission please visit the Forestry Commission website.
The Forestry Commission are also responsible for managing the Crown lands of the newly designated New Forest National Park.

Both Ranger teams are involved in a diverse and challenging variety of work:

Management and maintenance of all the sites – day to day works such as play equipment inspections and litter picking, conservation works e.g. overseeing cattle grazing, tree felling works and maintenance tasks such as repairs to fences and boardwalks. Cycle routes etc.

Visitor services – manning the Information Point at Moors Valley, responding to visitors’ problems e.g. first aid and lost children, providing information such as websites and maps, promotion, running the cycle hire centre, organising exhibitions and interpretative material e.g. panels and leaflets.

Education – Rangers lead over 5000 children in educational activities each year these include school groups, clubs and holiday events. Activities include bushcraft skills, pond dipping, fishing, cycling, tree studies, mini-beast hunts and orienteering.

Recreation and lifestyle –  the Rangers organise events to get people involved in countryside recreation and to encourage people to be more active. These could be anything from walks and cycle rides to outdoor exercise classes and Nordic walking.