Skip to main content

Maintaining and protecting woodlands on the UK Defence Training Estate

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Defence Training Estate (DTE), Forestry, Landmarc, Sustainability, Wildlife
Woodland in Sennybridge with sun coming through the trees

Woodland at Sennybridge [Copyright Finn Beales] Did you know we're right in the middle of Forest Week, and that the UK Defence Training Estate is made up of  20,000 hectares of woodland? To help celebrate Forest Week, Judith Peachey, Forestry …

No Mow May at RAF St Mawgan: the best excuse for not mowing the lawn!

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Defence Training Estate (DTE), Environment and Ecology, Sustainability
A photo showing a field of tall grass, with buildings to the left and an airport to the right. In the foreground is a sign reading 'RAF St Mawgan: Phil Lamb Way'

I’m Samuel Ibbotson, an Estate Facility Manager for DIO. My role is an interesting and varied one, and this summer at RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall has been no exception, following a station-wide “No Mow May” initiative. First launched in …

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS)

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: British Army, Canada, Defence Training Estate (DTE)
A Challenger 2 tank firing from its main turret, on a large grassy field.

I'm Kate Harrison, Finance Director at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and I recently had the pleasure of visiting the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Canada. The UK Armed Forces have trained here since 1972, so my visit with …

DIO’s Respect the Range campaign takes to the beach

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Armed Forces, Defence Training Estate (DTE), Training Estate Public Safety
A view from above of a stretch of beach, into which a large sand drawing of a Chinook military helicopter has been drawn. Next to the Chinook artwork, as if below the helicopter, there is a small group of people looking as though they are having a picnic.

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Saunton Sands beach, near Braunton Burrows Training Area to launch the 2022 ‘Respect the Range’ Campaign. The launch saw the creation of a 100m Chinook helicopter sand artwork that generated national media …

Restoring and protecting Flimston Chapel for future generations

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Castlemartin Training Area, Conservation, Defence Training Estate (DTE), Landmarc
Image taken from the side of the chapel, showing the renovated brick walling. There is a stained glass window in the central part of the wall, with a cross on the top part of the roof.

I’m Kathryn Sayner, one of DIO's Historic Building Advisors. I was recently involved in a conservation project to restore Flimston Chapel. Flimston Chapel is a notable landmark feature on Castlemartin Training Area in Pembrokeshire. The Grade II listed building dates …

National Apprenticeship Week 2022: reflecting on my experiences as a DIO apprentice

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Apprentices, Communications, Working at DIO
A white man wearing hiking gear and carrying a rucksack stands in an open field next to a wooden fence. In the background there is a dry stone wall with hills behind.

As National Apprenticeship Week gets underway, I’d like to offer some reflections on my apprenticeship journey within the DIO corporate communications team, as well as picking out a few personal highlights from my time as an apprentice in DIO. Why …