"Looking after your local nature reserve and Green Spaces"
Conserving Whitehill & Bordon’s Green Heart
Nora Dobson
Chair
I have been involved with DVT since 1989 when I became the first Ranger for the newly formed Trust. Before that I was a ranger in a country park in Northern Ireland after gaining a BSc in Biology (specialising in environmental science and conservation). I took a career break to look after my three children and worked as a volunteer in the Bordon Citizen's Advise Bureau for 11 years. After leaving the CAB I worked for a mobile farm and re-trained as a Personal Development Coach and Youth Coach.
My hobbies include bird watching and playing the violin and I am concert organiser for the Alton Concert Orchestra.
I have been a trustee for the DVT for the last ten years and became Chair in September 2015. I am enjoying this challenging new role in a growing organisation - both in terms of staff and land area under management. My family have all enjoyed our local countryside and I want to see it being protected and enhanced for future generations.
Rebekah Searle
Senior Countryside Ranger
I joined the trust in January 2021 and took on the role of Senior Ranger in 2023. I feel privileged to look after this lovely woodland, conserving its habitats and wildlife and managing it for the local community.
I graduated in 2014 with a BSc (Hons) in Ecology and Wildlife Conservation, which I followed by completing a practical conservation traineeship with Natural England on the East Dartmoor NNR in Devon. After this I worked in Costa Rica for 5 months undertaking wildlife surveys and conservation in a remote part of the Costa Rican rainforest. Once back in the UK, I was offered a Seasonal Warden post with Natural England back at the East Dartmoor NNR, and after completing this contract I spent 4 years with the South Downs National Park Authority as an Assistant Ranger, before joining the Deadwater Valley Trust. So, it’s been quite an adventure!
I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the role and learning more about the sites we manage, and I’m particularly excited to see the Hogmoor Inclosure throughout the seasons! I have a passion for the natural world and love being in the great outdoors, so I’m lucky to call my job, my hobby too.
Julie Reid
Community & Countryside Ranger
I came to Bordon when I was eight and have always spent time enjoying the natural area we are lucky enough to have around us. I completed my Forest School Level 3 qualification in November 2017 and joined the Deadwater team in November 2018. I now enjoy organizing and leading events for all ages within the Inclosures.
In 2023-2024 I studied for a diploma in Countryside Habitat Management at Merrist Wood College.
We are fantastically lucky to have such a variety of open spaces on our doorsteps and I am passionate about not only conserving and maintaining this area for future generations but also passing this passion for the natural world onto them as well.
Sarah Perryman
CountrySide Ranger
I joined the trust in June 2023.
I worked formally as a veterinary nurse but followed my passion for wildlife to Sparsholt College where I studied for my diploma.
Terry Read
Countryside Ranger
I began volunteering for two hours a week with the Trust in approximately 2015. After a couple of years, I joined the Monday volunteer group, was made very welcome and caught the bug for working outside on the Nature Reserve. I later increased my voluntary hours before being offered the position of part-time Countryside Ranger.
The Deadwater Valley is a great place to work with such diversity of habitats in a relatively small area. The work is always varied, ranging from cattle gazing to felling dangerous trees and, of course the dreaded litter picking, but, come rain, snow or the occasional sunshine I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Claire Oughtred
CountrySide Ranger
I joined the Trust in January 2025.
After graduating with a BA in Anthropology from Durham University in 2019, I took a year out to work in France, where I brushed up on my French, and to learn Spanish in Spain and South America. I then went on to study Environment, Climate Change, and Development at the University of Manchester, graduating in 2021. After that, I worked as a research assistant at Cambridge University before moving into environmental consulting in Manchester. One of the highlights of that role was being seconded to West Africa for a year, where I used my French to support environmental monitoring and stakeholder engagement on a coastal protection project in Togo and Benin.
While I was in West Africa, I realised how much I loved working outdoors, which led me to pursue a career as a ranger once I returned to the UK. After building my practical experience by volunteering at Spitalfields City Farm, I landed a trainee ranger position at Sussex Wildlife Trust, where I spent six months at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve learning the ropes and getting my qualifications in brushcutting and chainsawing. Now, I’m excited to bring everything I’ve learned to this role, and I can’t wait to get to know the volunteers, and the different sites!
Joe Murrey
CountrySide Ranger
I joined the Trust in March 2025.
After time spent working with tree surgeons and as a groundsman I studied for a Diploma in Countryside Habitat Management at Merrist Wood College.
Basil
Basil joined the team in 2021.
He owns Bekah and enjoys nothing more than haring about when doing his rounds with her.
Dennis
Dennis brings Sarah to work with him.
He like nothing better than finding a muddy, and often stinky, area to roll in. He keeps everyone in the office under his watchful eye and noisy command.
