Skip to main content

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 …

Leopards and more: monitoring rare wildlife in Brunei’s jungle training areas

A muntjac stands in the jungle looking towards the camera.

One interesting element of my job recently has been a study we’ve been working on in British Forces Brunei (BFB)’s jungle training areas to monitor whether training has any impact on the local wildlife. We’ve been working with the Brunei …

Yardley Chase Training Area: Northamptonshire’s hidden gem

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Conservation, Defence Training Estate (DTE), Environment and Ecology
A large pond bordered by green, grassy verges with trees growing near their edges

Yardley Chase Training Area in Northamptonshire is one of our lesser-known training areas, yet it’s truly a hidden gem. The site was recently showcased for its wildlife value in the nationally acclaimed British Wildlife magazine, thanks to the committed efforts …

The eagle has landed: rare bird returns to Lulworth Ranges

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Defence Training Estate (DTE), Environment and Ecology, Lulworth Training Area
A photo of a white-tailed eagle mid-flight. The eagle has large, rectangular like wings with frayed tips. It has a brown plumage with a pale head and white tail.

The white-tailed eagle or sea eagle is Britain’s largest bird of prey, and was once widespread along the south coast of England before being driven to extinction by human persecution. To restore this lost species, Forestry England and the Roy …

Keeping communities and soldiers safe in Kenya

Personnel from the Kenyan Defence Forces and Sappers from 17 Field Squadron Royal Engineers sitting in the shade getting briefed on their task

Out in Kenya DIO staff are responsible for the physical safety of the training areas, keeping both the public and the military safe. The team work on a variety of tasks together with the British Army, the Kenyan Defence Forces …

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 …

Last chance to nominate projects for the Sanctuary Awards!

Nominations for the Sanctuary Awards close on 31 July and it’s your last chance to nominate projects across our categories from the Individual Achievement Award through to the Social Value and Sustainable Procurement and Construction Award.

Baby squirrels born on Ballykinler Training Area

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Ballykinler Training Area, Conservation, Wildlife
Alyn is a white man smiling at the camera. Behind him is some shrubbery and a green sign. He wears a blue shirt and tie with a navy gilet over the top.

I was pleased to hear about the birth of new red squirrel kittens on the Ballykinler Training Area. For the past five years Belfast Zoo has been working together with DIO as one of the organisations involved with the red squirrel breeding programme to protect and help red squirrels adapt to the wild across forests in Northern Ireland.