In summer 2023, Conor McNeil stepped into the role of the National Trust’s Limpsfield Ranger for Limpsfield Common, as Jeremy Saunders has taken on a wider remit, which still includes Limpsfield.

A local boy, Conor grew up on Nutfield Marsh, went to Hawthorns then Caterham School, after which he headed to Plymouth University to read Environmental Science.

Following his degree, Conor worked for a time as a groundsman/kitchen gardener at The Pig at the South Downs Hotel, before joining the National Trust at Boxhill, as an immersive volunteer ranger.

Hearing about the role at Limpsfield, he had a look around the site, loved it and decided to try his luck with an application. The rest is history!

Conor is an environmental enthusiast through and through and on his days off, he can be found foraging, gardening/soft landscaping, beekeeping, and generally helping to keep his family’s homestead healthy! He’s also a keen writer of nature poetry.

He also works for a rewilding charity called “Youngwilders” as a project officer for their main site in West Surrey, and helping to manage their annual event at the Knepp Estate, bringing together young nature enthusiasts from all economic backgrounds.

Conor is already a huge fan of Limpsfield Common, being very interested in the diverse habitats contained in the area. “I look forward to giving these areas as much of my attention as I can afford,” he said, “so that they can reach their full and healthiest potential!”

Current projects include:

• Widening rides and bringing light onto the woodland floor in High Chart
• Dead-hedging renewal and expansion at Yalden Spring, as well as deepening some of the feeder channels, to help bring the spring back to its former historic glory!
• Maintenance of the heathland scrapes at Moorhouse and other areas to reveal the precious heather that is so important to preserve.

Please say Hi when you come across him amongst the trees! He has a hugely important role in the preservation and management of the Limpsfield Common/Chart area and would love to encourage younger Limpsfield residents (over 18) to get involved in the NT Volunteer Taskforce.

“It is phenomenally encouraging and reassuring to see the community involvement in Limpsfield Common and The Chart, and I look forward to helping to ensure that all demographics are involved with local decision making.”

If you’re interested, or know someone who might be, please email him: Conor.McNeil1@nationaltrust.org.uk