ROD GENTRY, SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK

The Park Protector Awards Volunteer of the Year was decided by a public vote, with Forestry England volunteer warden Rod Gentry (above) securing the top spot. Rod won a walking holiday in the Lake District, courtesy of Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. But it wasn’t just for his efforts patrolling one of the South Downs National Park’s forests, but for the way he nurtured an online community during the pandemic via the Friends of Friston Forest’s Facebook page. Rod has been volunteering as a warden since he moved to Friston Forest five years ago. He set up the Facebook page a year later and now oversees a growing community of more than 2,000 people.

Community ranger Jadie Baker, who nominated Rod, says: “Over the past year the number of visitors to the forest has been rising, and Rod has been instrumental in helping to balance the needs of the visitor and the needs of the forest. In managing the Facebook page, Rod has fostered a sense of community among its diverse user groups. The horseriders, the dog walkers, the runners, the cyclists all find a place they can have a voice and through Rod carefully mediating the chat to keep it local and relevant, people find a common ground: a shared respect for the forest and national park.

“Lots of small campaigns around littering, illegal camping, fires and dangerous parking have made the forest safer and cleaner,” Jadie adds. “The public became the eyes and ears of the forest – hundreds of virtual woodland wardens all connected in one place.”