'Offenders and Nature' schemes
What are the schemes?
Offenders from HMP Winchester working with the Forestry Commission in Micheldever Wood
(Photos: Ben Phelan, Forestry Commission)
'Offenders and Nature' (O&N) schemes involve offenders working as volunteers on nature conservation and woodland sites. An offender is someone serving a sentence in custody or in the community.
Those entering O&N schemes during their community sentence often work for one or two days per week on the scheme whereas those serving a custodial sentence usually do it full-time in the last 4 to 6 months of their prison sentence. Prisoners who participate in O&N projects will have been risk-assessed in order that they can be released on temporary license.
What are the benefits and outcomes?
O&N schemes are seen as reparative work that benefits the public, providing experience of teamwork, life and skills training to offenders; and through the worthwhile and visible tasks boosting their confidence and feeling of self-worth.
Examples of tasks that might be included:
- Creating and maintaining footpaths and access routes
- Opening up dense vegetation to create more diverse habitats
- Establishing ponds
- Building board walks.
Who is involved?
O&N initiatives involve partnerships between at least one offender management organisation and at least one natural environment organisation. Successful partnerships require some understanding of each other’s priorities, drivers and the policy context in which they operate.
Further information
- Research summary (PDF-698K)
- Policy context
- Evidence base
- Examples of schemes
- Publications and other resources
Enquiries
These can be addressed to:
Liz O'Brien
Forest Research
Alice Holt Lodge
Farnham
Surrey
GU10 4LH
Email: liz.obrien@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 01420 22255
Fax: 01420 23653
