Hoburne Bashley apprentice Kamron Flaxman wins UK Apprentice of the Year 2023/24 for Environment, Conservation, Game and Wildlife

AN inspirational woodland worker has won a national title just months after being judged apprentice of the year in the New Forest Business Awards.

Kamron Flaxman, who works at Hoburne Bashley Woodland, has now won UK Apprentice of the Year 2023/24 for Environment, Conservation, Game and Wildlife. He was nominated by Sparsholt College, which is using his profile to inspire students.

The 22-year-old from Hordle, who has hidden learning disabilities, enjoys the benefits of working outside with nature, and is keen to promote its importance for wellbeing and the environment.

He says he would like to be an ambassador to inspire young people to believe in themselves and seek out opportunities to progress and improve their mental health.

Kamron’s mum Sue said: “Kamron has worked really hard to overcome some difficulties, but it has all been worth it to win this award. He also won the New Forest Business Awards Apprentice of the Year 2023/24, so he has had amazing results for all his efforts!

“We are very proud of Kamron and all his achievements – my husband Perry, our daughter Casey and myself went to both award ceremonies to support him and had a fantastic time.”

The latest Land Based and Environment Learning Awards (Lantra) ceremony was held at Reaseheath College, Cheshire, and was presented by Adam Henson, presenter of the BBC’s Countryfile shows.

Kamron’s nominating Sparsholt tutors, Laura Benson and Sarah Andrews, also attended the ceremony, together with his manager at Hoburne Bashley, Simon Helmsley.

Kamron attended Oak Lodge School, becoming head boy and also playing cricket for Hampshire Disability Team. As a pupil there, he undertook work experience at Hoburne Bashley, learning about maintaining the woodland, conservation, wildlife, habitats, bushcraft skills and educating the local community about the environment and its importance.

Sue said Kamron loved working at Hoburne Bashley Woodland under the supervision of Paul Brockman and Simon, and was so enthusiastic and inspired by them both that he asked to stay on as a volunteer, which he did for four years after leaving school.

His dedication and enthusiasm as a volunteer paid off, as Hoburne Bashley offered him their first woodland apprenticeship placement. He then started the countryside worker apprenticeship course at Sparsholt and was supported and trained on site by Simon, who won an award at the New Forest Business Awards 2022 for outstanding contribution to the visitor economy.

Both he and Kamron go out regularly into the community giving talks and sharing information about their work at Hoburne Bashley Woodland.