Knowle Park Trust Appoints Sam McCone as Park Ranger

Knowle Park Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Sam McCone as Park Ranger for Knowle Park, the 60-acre country park and nature reserve in Cranleigh.

This key role is an important step in the Trust’s ongoing work to protect and enhance the park, while improving the experience for everyone who visits.

As Park Ranger, Sam will play a central role in the day-to-day care of the park. Working closely with trustees, volunteers and partners, he will help manage the landscape, support conservation projects, and ensure the park remains safe, welcoming and well looked after.

His work will include practical habitat management, maintaining paths and infrastructure, and supporting seasonal projects across the site. This will range from woodland management and coppicing to biodiversity monitoring, helping to protect and encourage the wide range of wildlife that calls Knowle Park home.

Sam will also support and coordinate the Trust’s volunteer programme, working alongside the dedicated team who give their time each week to maintain and improve the park. Volunteers are at the heart of Knowle Park, and this role will help strengthen and grow that contribution.

In addition, Sam will be a visible and approachable presence in the park, engaging with visitors, supporting events and activities, and helping to promote responsible use of the space. This includes reinforcing important messages around protecting wildlife and respecting the natural environment throughout the year.

Martin Bamford, Chairman of Knowle Park Trust, said:

We’re delighted to welcome Sam to Knowle Park. This is a really important appointment for the Trust and the park's future.

Knowle Park is a special place, and as it continues to grow in popularity, it’s vital that we invest in its care and long-term sustainability. Sam brings the right mix of practical skills, environmental awareness and community focus to the role.

I’m particularly pleased that Sam will be working closely with our volunteers, who do an incredible job week in, week out. This role will help us build on that momentum, strengthen our conservation work, and ensure the park continues to thrive for years to come.

Sam McCone said:

I’m really excited to be joining Knowle Park Trust as Park Ranger. It’s a fantastic space with a strong community behind it, and I’m looking forward to getting started.

There’s a real opportunity to make a positive impact, both in terms of conservation and the experience visitors have when they come to the park. I’m keen to support the volunteers, get to know the site, and help develop projects that benefit both people and wildlife.

The appointment reflects Knowle Park Trust’s long-term vision to balance increasing visitor numbers with careful stewardship of the park’s habitats and ecology.

Sam will begin work immediately, and visitors can expect to see him out and about across the park in the coming weeks.