Dartmoor female group nominated for national award

The Girls Do Dartmoor project, a key initiative in the Dartmoor Preservation Association's (DPA) Community Engagement Ranger Programme, has been nominated for the New Perspectives award at the Campaign for National Parks' National Park Protector Awards.

The award, sponsored by Natural England, celebrates projects that promote diversity and inclusion within National Parks.

Girls Do Dartmoor is recognised for its work in connecting young women with Dartmoor, encouraging them to experience the outdoors in a safe and supportive environment.

Led by youth ranger Kats Koster-Shadbolt, the project has been a standout success over the past year, engaging 70 girls who collectively spent 1,750 hours on Dartmoor. 

The programme targets young women from a 2,500-pupil Academy Trust across three secondary schools, aiming to boost confidence, attendance, and self-reliance.

The all-female sessions help build the girls' confidence and offer a space to connect with their peers while developing essential outdoor skills. 

Each six-week programme focuses on physical activities, outdoor challenges, and skill-building. 

Feedback from participating schools indicates improved academic attendance and increased peer support.

Tom Usher, CEO of the Dartmoor Preservation Association, praised Kats’ dedication, saying: “The Junior Ranger Programme and Girls Do Dartmoor is hugely important to the future of Dartmoor. Kats’ work is astonishing – she’s like a single-woman army, delivering inspiring sessions to hundreds of young people who would not have otherwise accessed the Park or felt a sense of ownership towards it.”

Kats Koster-Shadbolt, who conceived, funded, and led the programme single-handedly, has created a lasting impact, inspiring young women to explore careers in outdoor education, conservation, and National Park advocacy.

Girls Do Dartmoor is also nominated for the People’s Choice award, which is determined by public vote. 

Voting is open now, and the winner will be announced on the Campaign for National Parks website and social media on Monday, December 9.

The awards ceremony, including the presentation of the New Perspectives award, will take place in the House of Lords on December 11.

To vote for the People’s Choice award, visit the Campaign for National Parks website.

For more information about Girls Do Dartmoor, visit the Dartmoor Preservation Association's website.