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Defence Training Estate (DTE)

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 …

Excavating a 2,500-year-old Iron Age hill fort

Two men kneel on the ground next to a shallow trench. One, wearing a light red hoodie, is placing an item into a bucket. The background is foggy.

A team of archaeologists and volunteers has just finished excavating part of a 2,500-year-old Iron Age hillfort on Lulworth Training Area. The impressively sited Flower’s Barrow hillfort is sadly being lost to the sea due to coastal erosion due to its …

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 …

State of the art range tower delivers improved facilities for training troops

A Challenger 2 tank firing. There is a large explosion and smoke coming from the end of the barrel. The day is sunny.

A new state of the art range tower at Castlemartin Range in Pembrokeshire will secure the future for the delivery of tri-service training at Castlemartin. Castlemartin Training Area is large enough for live-firing, tactical battlegroup-level exercises involving multiple Armoured Fighting …

British Science Week 2022: Using green innovation to deliver carbon efficient training accommodation

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Construction, Defence Training Estate (DTE), Sustainability
An aerial view of the two new double storey, carbon neutral accommodation buildings at Brunswick Camp. The buildings are a light green colour, with rows of solar panels along their roofs. Surrounding the two new buildings are a range of older barracks buildings and other facilities, with roads connecting the different areas of the camp.

Today marks the start of British Science Week, a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths. This year’s theme is ‘growth’ and in Defence, we are highlighting the ways in which science and innovation are being harnessed to grow …

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 …

Storm Arwen: from devastation to woodland regeneration

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Defence Training Estate (DTE), Environment and Ecology, Forestry
The image is an aerial view of a hillside on which there is a large number of fallen or damaged trees.

Hello, I’m Judith Peachey, Forestry Harvesting and Arboriculture Manager at Landmarc Support Services. We work with DIO to manage land and facilities across the MOD’s 190,000 hectares of UK training estate, and my job has a focus on long term …

Extreme E: An electrifying race weekend at Bovington Training Area

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: British Army, Defence Training Estate (DTE), Sustainability
The photo was taken from the side of the racetrack and shows two Extreme E SUVs passing over a jump. The car in front is on the descent while the other follows closely behind in mid-air over the jump. In the background is a row of trees adjacent to the track.

Over the weekend of 18-19 December 2021, we had the exciting task of hosting the final race of the inaugural season of Extreme E at Bovington Training Area (BTA) in Dorset. Extreme E is an international off-road, electric racing series …