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Leading the way in countryside care


By Ian Mitchell



Marina Swanson goes pond dipping with local youngsters. Photo: Iain Sarjeant, Caithness Biodiversity Collection.
Marina Swanson goes pond dipping with local youngsters. Photo: Iain Sarjeant, Caithness Biodiversity Collection.

RANGER services are a continuing and vital part of our countryside. Rangers provide guidance and local knowledge for people to enjoy the outdoors and understand more about their environment.

They also have an important role to play in caring for the places people enjoy and helping to resolve difficulties which can sometimes arise.

Ranger services are provided by local and national organisations – from agencies and councils to non-governmental organisations, private landowners and communities. Scottish Natural Heritage has traditionally provided financial support for many of these services, though from April 2009 this funding was changed to encompass the community, voluntary and private sectors.

Funding for local authority countryside rangers is maintained directly from the Scottish Government through a process called a single outcome agreement.

There are around 60 council, community, voluntary and private-sector ranger services in Scotland, employing around 300 full-time equivalent posts. Other ranger services are provided directly by public bodies such as Forestry Commission Scotland, Historic Scotland and National Park Authorities.

Many readers will have encountered a ranger at some point in their travels. In Caithness and Sutherland we are lucky to have an excellent team of Highland Council countryside rangers. Caithness and north Sutherland is covered by Paul Castle, Marina Swanson and Dieter Tuerlinckx, while the rest of Sutherland is the stomping group of Ian Paterson (east Sutherland), Donald Mitchell (north-west Sutherland) and Andy Summers (west Sutherland) who oversee a range of duties and activities.

Andy, who is based in Assynt, oversees the management of all the Highland Council’s ranger activities in Sutherland and Caithness.

In addition to the local authority rangers we have a geo-ranger based in the North West Highlands Geopark, funded jointly by SNH and Highland LEADER, an EU funding stream administered by the council.

The park starts at the Summer Isles in Wester Ross and continues northwards through west Sutherland to the north coast. It extends to the east of Durness, beyond Loch Eriboll, and on to the Moine.

Geologist Donald Fisher, from Scourie, provides an excellent service across the north-west and gives regular guided walks at the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve. Through his series of popular guided walks on the reserve he is raising awareness and understanding of our fascinating and turbulent geological past. This helps people understand how the landscape all around us came to be how it is today.

THE valuable work of our countryside rangers can be very varied, with some based on specific sites and others covering a large geographic area.

Rangers play an important role in promoting the Scottish Outdoor Access Code – contributing to councils’ biodiversity duties and providing valuable environmental education activities to local schools and community groups.

They also run many events and guided walks which help raise awareness and encourage local communities and visitors alike to appreciate the scenery, wildlife and heritage of the North. Ranger services also make an important contribution to a number of key Scottish Government policies:

Increasing health and wellbeing through providing access to and promoting enjoyment and understanding of the outdoors.

Marina Swanson goes pond dipping with local youngsters. Photo: Iain Sarjeant, Caithness Biodiversity Collection.
Marina Swanson goes pond dipping with local youngsters. Photo: Iain Sarjeant, Caithness Biodiversity Collection.

All ranger services actively encourage access to the countryside and provide a range of guided walks and outdoor events for all ages and abilities.

These not only get people out into the fresh air but are also great opportunities to pass on valuable messages about understanding and caring for our countryside.

Encouraging people to be active citizens by helping to build stronger and safer communities and providing opportunities for volunteering, locally or further afield.

Rangers also work closely with local communities to organise activities which help to address social issues like litter and recycling.

Tackling social inclusion by working with less advantaged groups and communities.

A lot of ranger work is focused on special needs groups and less advantaged communities.

Their activities can range from providing support for disabled groups such as the visually impaired to delivering a teaching support programme at Wick High School. Some rangers, mainly but not exclusively in urban areas, also deliver a programme of outdoor activities for the socially excluded.

Supporting sustainable economic development by maintaining, managing and promoting infrastructure for tourism.

Enhancing the natural and historic environment for future generations, including designated sites and green space close to where people live.

So with all these excellent professional services available on most of our doorsteps, get out there and support your local countryside ranger.

Go on a guided walk, visit a ranger event or generally get involved in some ranger-led activities in your area. And remember, many ranger activities are available throughout the year so this can be a regular part of your routine.

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