Conservation Society re-launch

Posted 13 June 2012

Students with an appreciation for conservation have come together to form a club at Harper Adams University College.

The Conservation Society meets most Wednesdays and weekends to engage in activities such as charcoal making, hedge laying, surveying and woodland management.

It also welcomes guest speakers and encourages members and people within the wider Harper Adams community to engage in conservation projects in the local area, for example, tree staking.

Chairman, 20-year-old Dale Webb, said: “Anyone can join the Conservation Society; we welcome students and staff from all courses.

“It’s all about bringing like-minded people together to spend time in the countryside and learn new skills. We want to promote an appreciation of conservation.”

Recently, members of the club were invited to learn about the ancient art of charcoal making during a two-day master class.

Anne Walker, Conservation Society Health and Safety Officer, is studying BSc (Hons) Countryside Management. She said: ‘The Society is a fun and sociable way of learning new skills and meeting people - the skills learnt should be valued as work experience.

“The charcoal making course was a great experience. Charcoaling is a traditional method of woodland management and it was fascinating to learn about the process, plus, we were able to take home the charcoal that we made.”

Club Member, Sara Studden, said: “Charcoal making with the Conservation Society was a really different way to spend a weekend but a really awesome one! I met and made friends with new people and learnt loads of traditional skills.”

The club executives will be at the annual fresher’s fair on September 29.

Dale, who is studying BSc (Hons) Countryside Management, added: “We have a packed schedule for the up-and-coming new students, including hedge laying, mammal surveying, coppicing and the potential for a fresh water restoration project.”

To find out more about the Conservation Society, email conservation@live.harper.ac.uk or join the Facebook page here.