New strategy for Aberdeenshire Council's ranger service to be assessed
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The key priorities, aims and objectives of the Aberdeenshire Council ranger service are to be scrutinised by councillors.
The local authority's infrastructure services committee will also assess a review of the rangers work over the past few years during its online meeting, which will be held 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.
The review of the service assessed its activities during 2017 to 2020.
In the report from ranger service co-ordinator Fiona Banks that will go before the committee it said: "The gross expenditure for the ranger service over the 2017- 20 period including the Bennachie Visitor Centre, salary and associated staff costs, administration, travel, supplies and services was £943,060. Income over the same period including from the Bennachie Centre Trust and donations received was £23,208."
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 outlines: "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 states: "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 report said: "The centre maintained its four-star rating following a quality assurance assessment of the centre in 2018 by Visit Scotland under their revised Visitor Quality Assurance Scheme.
"It was crowned the Tourist Hotspot of the Year at the Pride of Inverurie Awards in August 2018 beating off competition from Inverurie Golf Club and Castle Fraser.
"The centre was also shortlisted as a finalist in the Best Visitor Attraction category at the Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards, with it only being pipped to the post by Peterhead Prison Museum."
The service's new strategy focuses on its activities up to 2023.
Four key priorities have been outlined which are 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.
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.
The committee is being recommended to acknowledge the work of the ranger service over the 2017-20 period and agree its proposed key priorities, aims and objectives in the new strategy up to 2023.
