Meet Twywell Hills & Dales Ranger Luke

Just a few miles from Kettering, on the southern edge of Rockingham Forest, lies one of East Northamptonshire’s most beautiful and most overlooked nature reserves.

Twywell Hills & Dales is a free, 135-acre site with sweeping open fields, limestone gullets, woodland and wildflower meadows. It is managed by Groundwork Northamptonshire, part of a wider network of green spaces that includes The Green Patch in Kettering. The only question is: why don’t more people know it’s there?

A hidden gem – even for locals

Luke Parker, Ranger at Twywell Hills & Dales, hears it all the time. “There are people that live in the village that don’t even know we are here,” said Luke. “And when you show them around, they always say it feels like a different country.”

Twywell Hills & Dales is not simply a dog walking area. It is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), recognised as one of the best locations for butterflies in Northamptonshire. Over 30 species have been recorded here, from Skippers and Fritillaries to Purple Emperors. It is also home to great crested newts, badgers, dragonflies, rare beetles and an extraordinary variety of wildflowers – and it is completely free to visit.

From Kickstart to keeper of the land

Luke’s path to becoming a Ranger wasn’t a straight one. A Kickstart placement as Assistant Ranger at Twywell sparked his passion for the site, and after time working at a nursery, caring for animals, and walking the full length of the UK from Land’s End to John O’Groats, he returned to take up the permanent Ranger role in November 2024.

No two days the same

Day to day, Luke might be installing wayfinding posts, clearing scrub, managing habitats or planting trees. In recent weeks he has planted around 100 native trees – oak, birch, dogwood, dog rose and cherry – around a designated area earmarked for a future outdoor classroom for school groups.

Two trail cameras run continuously across the site. “I had 1,000 videos over the course of a week,” Luke says. Each month he curates the best footage for a social media round-up – a window into the wildlife that most visitors never see.

Get involved

Luke is actively building Twywell’s volunteer community, with a dedicated weekly volunteer day in the pipeline. Whether you have a few hours or want to make it a regular commitment, there are plenty of ways to get stuck in.

Get in touch via the Friends of Twywell Hills & Dales Facebook group (link to https://www.facebook.com/groups/twywellnaturereserve) or follow our Groundwork Northamptonshire social media channels for news and updates. Also check out our Ranger Luke’s Instagram account, packed with films, photos and wildlife magic.