Aberdeenshire ranger service strategy backed by committee
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Councillors have endorsed Aberdeenshire Council ranger service's strategy up to 2023.
It went before the local authority's infrastructure services committee at its online meeting on Thursday.
The service seeks to connect people to place and aims to increase appreciation, understanding and care of the area's natural and cultural heritage.
It employs six full-time rangers, one based in each administrative area of Aberdeenshire, and is line managed by a co-ordinator. The service provides staff for the Bennachie Visitor Centre on behalf of the Bennachie Centre Trust; a part-time warden; seasonal/relief assistants and a cleaner.
When restrictions are eased and will allow the rangers hold a variety of events for schools and the wider community.
In the report that went before councillors it outlined that the new strategy has four key priorities.
They are to further promote the health and wellbeing benefits of accessing the outdoors and ensuring it is accessible to all.
Increase opportunities available for outdoor learning and environmental education to ensure it is accessible to all.
Increase positive action to combat biodiversity loss and climate change at an individual and community level.
And finally promote Aberdeenshire’s countryside and coast as a green tourism destination and increase opportunities for income generation potential for the service.
The strategy also highlights the services aims and objectives which are the promotion of the area's natural and cultural heritage; support nature connection in school pupils and young people; protect, sustain and enhance care of the natural heritage; and continuously improve.
There will be a requirement to consider the challenges of the changing environment, diverse communities and user groups, particularly dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
Service manager Maureen Corley told the meeting: "We have had lots of positive feedback on the work the team do from the area committees, which reflects the huge amount of effort on their behalf.
"Where councillors have made suggestions we've tried to address these within the new strategy and we've given a commitment to a number of actions.
"We do recognise the need to continue to explore opportunities for joint working with Live Life Aberdeenshire in particular, and with a number of other partners to provide contact information and regular updates to members on what the team is up to.
"We'll also be providing input into local community plans and area delivery plans, and discussions have already started on that."
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been taken into account in the new strategy.
The report said: "This is particularly important as we begin to evaluate and address the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, including changes to how user groups value and engage with nature.
"To meet the required flexible and responsiveness within the strategy framework, an annual action plan with detailed information on service delivery will be written and reported on."
The new strategy will not include the Bennachie Visitor Centre. The Bennachie Centre Trust produces its own annual action plan and the ranger service will work closely with the trust and centre staff through this.
Councillor David Aitchison welcomed the strategy and the work done by the rangers.
He said: "They do excellent work, a lot of which goes unseen but certainly not unhearlded among councillors.
"Colleagues were very supportive in terms of the work that is done. Thank you to everyone involved with the team."
The committee also assessed the activities of the service during 2017 to 2020.
A key priority over that time was to further develop partnership working and increase engagement with those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged and may not have previously benefited from access to the countryside.
The report said: "Through the strategy period 164 sessions attended by 920 disadvantaged or vulnerable people were delivered."
Another key priority was to develop volunteer policy and procedures and focus on increasing the number of volunteering opportunities it offered.
The report stated: "During the strategy period the ranger service delivered 209 sessions, attended by 2872 people, offering 4407 volunteer hours. Two ranger service volunteer job profiles were developed, and five ranger service volunteers have been successfully recruited."
The third key priority focused on developing the promotion of the Bennachie Visitor Centre through Visit Scotland accreditation schemes. Over the review period the centre maintained visitor numbers above 35,000 people every year; the centre maintained its four-star rating following a quality assurance assessment by Visit Scotland; and won and was nominated for awards.
It was agreed by the committee this work be acknowledged and the new strategy was supported.
Related story: New strategy for Aberdeenshire Council's ranger service to be assessed
