Meet the team
Our Visitor Centre is run in partnership with the Parks Foundation and volunteers
The North Bournemouth Reserves are managed by an enthusiastic team of rangers and their volunteers. They carry out various tasks to maintain and enrich the important habitats on these sites for both wildlife and visitors alike.
Our Rangers
Tom Bennett (Senior Ranger)
Tom has a Diploma in Forestry and a National Diploma in Countryside Management, he is also an NVQ assessor in Environmental Conservation and has worked within the industry for the last 15 years.
He started working for Bournemouth Borough Council at Stour Valley Local Nature Reserve in August 2014, where he manages the North Countryside Team. He loves the outside and enjoys playing football and cricket in his spare time.
James Boyland (Ranger)
James has been part of the team at Stour Valley for several years, years beginning his career with Bournemouth Borough Council as a greenkeeper at the age of 17 in 1998 and gradually worked up to his current role as Ranger.
Alongside the day to day running of the different nature reserves, his main responsibilities are the induction and management of the fantastic teams of volunteers, organisation of cattle on our various sites and taking a leading role when Tom, our Senior Ranger, is not around. When not working, James enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 young children as well as taking an active role in his local church and playing sport when he finds the time!
Steve Charnley (Assistant Heathland Mitigation Ranger)
Steve has always had a keen interest in nature & especially the Stour Valley having lived in the area for 25 years. Steve started volunteering at the Kingfisher Barn visitor centre in 2016. Having previously worked in office management for many years he decided to change direction when he was given the opportunity to work as a Trainee Ranger in 2017. He is now employed as a Ranger and enjoys working alongside his colleagues and our teams of amazing volunteers in maintaining and improving the Stour Valley and our other North Bournemouth nature reserves.
Steve is a keen countryside rambler, walking every day and especially enjoys long weekend hikes with country pub pitstops en-route!