A minibus adventure - a youth group enjoy a walk and talk at Old Lodge

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, 09 March 2026
A minibus adventure - a youth group enjoy a walk and talk at Old Lodge
Old Lodge Youth Walk & Talk © Raquel Boira Boulding

Katie Bell/Callum Forster

Youth Action Officer/Leysdown Trainee Ranger

Katie 

We held a fantastic youth event at Old Lodge Nature Reserve recently - a Walk and Talk with Leysdown Trainee Ranger, Callum Forster. 

It was a gorgeous day to explore the Ashdown Forest, getting great insights from Callum. Thanks to our fully electric Toyota mini-bus, we can often provide free transport to and from our events, something that can be a hurdle for young people looking to get involved in nature, because most do not drive. We had new people sign up, and these people also now want to become volunteers and attend our Youth Forum. They also offered great ideas for future events. Most of these conversations took place on the bus! 
 

Exmoor Pony © Katie Bell

Callum

When you ask people ‘What is your favourite Sussex Wildlife Trust reserve?’, they have a habit of mentioning Old Lodge. I’ve been lucky enough to live right around the corner from it for the past year during my time as a Trainee Ranger, so it was the obvious choice when choosing a place to lead a walk for young people.

I had a great time organising and leading this event and feel privileged to have been able to share this special reserve with a group of curious young people, some of whom had never visited Ashdown Forest before. The wildlife we spotted during the walk included Woodlark (who had only just started singing), Raven, Stonechat, our Exmoor Ponies and Newts!

Woodlark © Derek Middleton

It was a lovely day out on the reserve with plenty of good conversation and wholesome vibes. The walk was a great opportunity for young people in Sussex to connect with each other and with a part of nature that is typically out of reach for them. Leading the event and talking about the different aspects of Old Lodge has also put into perspective how much I’ve learnt during my time as a trainee.

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