BEAWORTHY soldier Lance Corporal Wayne Orchard has put his construction skills to the test by helping to build a family home in the mountains of the Aberdare National Park, in Kenya. LCpl Orchard, 25, is one of a team of Royal Engineers from 34 Field Squadron (air support), involved in Exercise Oak Apple in Africa. Instead of his usual role of repairing airfields on operations, LCpl Orchard has been working for the Kenya Wildlife Service on a project to benefit the local community and help with the conservation of wildlife. Located on the eastern edge of the Rift Valley, north of Nairobi, the Aberdare National Park forms one of Africa's largest forest reserves and is home to many wildlife species, including rare and endangered animals such as the bongo antelope and the black leopard. As part of Exercise Oak Apple, the army's engineers were given the tasks of constructing homes for park rangers, repairing a bridge and widening a track within the boundaries of the park. The new houses are for the park attendants, who play a vital role in patrolling and maintaining the electric fence, which protects the park from poachers and keeps the animals secure. Up until now, local workers have been living nearby in small wooden or tin huts, with no washing, sanitation or cooking facilities. Second in command of his section, LCpl Orchard, a military carpenter and joiner, explained his role in the project at Shamata Gate: 'I've organised the putting in of door frames and building of the roof, and we've still got the cladding to put up. It's good to be doing something for the community and I think they are going to make the most of the building. 'I've enjoyed working here just because it's in Kenya and it's different to the UK. It's been strange though to see how poor the people are.' Park ranger, Joseph Gambare, 24, said the new homes would make his job easier, with the fence attendants living on site. Mr Gambare works for the Kenya Wildlife Service and manages the park's perimeter fence at Shamata, playing a vital role in combating poaching. The British army carries out Oak Apple projects in Kenya every year. The basic materials for such projects are funded by African organisations with the army providing the manpower and machinery to get the job done. The exercises enable the engineers to test their skills ahead of operational tours and also leave behind something that will benefit the local community. LCpl Orchard, a former pupil of Holsworthy Community College, is due to fly back to the UK at Easter. His parents, Edwin and Morag, live in Ashwater. l Aberdare was made famous in February 1952 when the Queen stayed at the park's Treetops Lodge. The British monarch entered as a princess and left the following morning as the Queen after the death of her father.
