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Year in review: What DIO has achieved in 2023

A large group of people standing on a chalk image carved into the side of a hill.

It’s been a busy year for us at DIO. From supporting the Coronation of King Charles III to supplying more than 20,000kg of turkey to Armed Forces personnel over Christmas, our teams have been working hard to help our Armed …

Take a look at our Christmas-related creatures and plants on the Defence Estate

A group of penguins walk on the sand in the Falkland Islands.

  It’s the most wonderful time of the year – but that doesn’t stop the hard work that goes on behind the scenes across the Defence Training Estate every day. Our ecology and environmental management teams work tirelessly alongside the …

Staying safe and protecting wildlife on the Defence Training Estate

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Defence Training Estate (DTE), Environment and Ecology, Public safety
A pair of women in navy blue uniforms stood behind a table on a beach, with flags to their left and right reading 'Coast and Country Canines'. To their left are another pair of women in civilian attire.

As the Deputy Training Safety Officer for the South East Defence Training Estate, my job is to ensure that our Armed Forces have a safe place to train at numerous sites across the region. It’s a varied role that often …

A helping hand for reptiles and amphibians on the Defence estate

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Defence Estate, Environment and Ecology, Volunteering
An adder snake curled up in a section of leafy scrub

The Defence estate includes some of the UK’s most important wildlife sites and is unrivalled in terms of its size and the diversity of habitats and species it supports. Much of our estate is accessible to the public, and providing …

Celebrating the 2022 Sanctuary Awards

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Conservation, Defence Estate, Sustainability
A silver trophy consisting of an otter with a fish in its mouth, perched on top of a rectangular plinth into which is inscribed: 'Sanctuary Award Silver Otter'

Since 1991, the Sanctuary Awards have been recognising outstanding sustainability and conservation efforts across the MOD. The awards celebrate group and individual-led projects that are benefiting sustainable development and helping to conserve the environment, natural resources and heritage across Defence’s …

Military training at Penhale Training Area helps restore vital sand dune habitats

  I’m a Reservist with the British Army’s 232 Port Squadron, 165 Port and Maritime Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (RLC), and I recently volunteered for the Penhale Dunes Dynamic Dunescape support exercise as I wanted to contribute to a unique …

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 …