Memorial Bench for Geoff Pollard

It still remains of great sadness, to experience the loss of Geoff Pollard, the Town Council’s Countryside Ranger this year. Geoff, aged 54 years, passed away on Monday 8 June, in West Park Nature Reserve.

As Countryside Ranger, Geoff had worked for the Town Council for five and a half years and was responsible for carrying out practical conservation work in the town’s two local nature reserves (Hempstead Meadows and West Park), our ancient woodlands and sites of key wildlife and biodiversity such as Harlands Pond.

Geoff had a wealth of knowledge and expertise in conservation management with over 25 years’ experience. Prior to working at Uckfield Town Council he had worked for BTCV (TCV) as a trainer and assessor nearby at Plashett Wood, Rose Hill and Stanmer Park, Brighton. He had experience in using both traditional and modern methods of conservation management to encourage the co-existence of flora and fauna. In that role, he had also provided a great deal of support to the Millennium Green Trust, in Ridgewood.

Further to previous correspondence, we wished to update Geoff’s work colleagues, volunteers, friends, and nearby residents of our plans to place a memorial in West Park Nature Reserve.

We are inviting donations towards installing an engraved Granite bench in Geoff’s honour. The location of the bench will be discussed with the Local Nature Reserve Supporters Group prior to installation.

Granite has been selected as the preferred option due to its hard-wearing nature and reduces the likelihood of vandalism, increasing longevity. 

Donations are welcome and Uckfield Town Council will seek to meet any shortfall in funding.