A WOODLAND teacher who has promoted forestry management and inspired the next generation to embrace conservation work has received a British Empire Medal (BEM) from the Queen.

New Milton resident Paul Brockman, who runs Woodlander Coppice in the New Forest, has been named in the New Year Honours.

The 62-year-old is known by many in the Forest for his incredible work at Hoburne Bashley in woodland management.

He spent eight years working at the site before becoming a sole trader in recent months, which is going “extremely well”.

Bournemouth Echo:

Discussing his BEM, Mr Brockman told the Daily Echo: “I just couldn’t believe it. When somebody starts to praise me, I go into my shell, but my wife said I should embrace it.

“I am really proud of the achievement and I am very honoured.

“I don’t know who nominated me and to be honest I don’t really want to know.

“It is just such an honour and I must have done something right.”

He has lived in the New Forest since the late 1960s.

After more than two decades working in social care supporting young people, he decided to set about a career change around 10 years ago.

Following a chance opportunity at Hoburne Bashley, he set about delivering on plans for the woodland.

Bournemouth Echo:

Mr Brockman secured funding from the Forestry Commission as he set about bringing the natural environment at the site back to life again.

He created a two-year woodland management programme for students who struggle in formal educational settings and support their transition into further education.

“I was just passionate about giving these youngsters a start and teething out of them that they all have potential and to value that potential but also to reconnect with nature and that all our woodlands need to be managed,” said Mr Brockman.

“We have so little woodland on these islands and what we have got left needs management.”

Having been inspired himself by Ray Mears, trained by John Rhyder and having Ben Law of Grand Designs fame as a mentor, Mr Brockman continues to see the importance in engaging with the next generation.

Bournemouth Echo:

The CPRE and New Forest National Park award winner added: “All I wanted was to get as many young people as possible inspired and motivated to go into land-based industry and now that it is even more important that happens.

“The land-based industry needs more and more young people to bring it back to life. I feel that it is not about us now. It is about the next generation and the generation after that and what we leave for them – for me it is really important.”