Scottish Natural Heritage

Ranger Services in Scotland – The Achievements ‘at a glance’ 2010/11

2 www.snh.gov.uk

Ranger Services in Scotland – The Achievements ‘at a glance’ 2010/11Scotland’s Rangers Services are an important asset, providing real and tangible benefits for the people and environment of Scotland. This ‘at a glance’ summary shows the achievements in 2010/11 of the Ranger Services supported by grant aid from SNH or the Cairngorms National Park Authority, as well as a number of other Ranger Services.

In2008,SNHrefresheditsapproachtoRangersinScotland.Buildingonour1997Rangerpolicy,weworkedwitharangeofpartnerstoprepareanewstatementtoprovidetheframeworkwithinwhichallRangerServicescouldbedevelopedandmanagedeffectivelytomeetlocalneedswithintheframeworkofnationalprioritiesestablishedbytheScottishGovernment.

ThestatementwasendorsedbytheConventionofScottishLocalAuthorities,theScottishCountrysideRangers’Association,LochLomondandtheTrossachsNationalParkAuthority,theCairngormsNational

ParkAuthority,ForestryCommissionScotlandandHistoricScotland.Aspartofourcommitmenttodeliveringthisstatement,SNHagreedtocollateandpublishinformationontheworkofRangerServicesacrossScotlandandthecontributiontheymaketoGovernmentpriorities.

ThisisthesecondreporttobepublishedonRangerServices’achievements.Thefirstreportcovered2009/10.

TheRangersinScotlandPolicyidentifiesthreekeyRangeraimstodescribethebreadthofworkthatRangersareinvolvedin.

Background

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Ranger Aims Government priorities

Toensureawarmwelcomeandprovidesupporttohelppeopleenjoytheoutdoors

supportingsustainable economic developmentbymaintaining,managingandpromotinginfrastructurefortourism;

increasinghealth and well-being throughfacilitatingaccesstoandpromotingenjoymentandunderstandingoftheoutdoors;

encouragingpeopletobeactive citizensbyhelpingtobuildstrongerandsafercommunitiesandprovidingopportunitiesforvolunteering,locallyorfurtherafield;

tacklingsocial inclusionbyworkingwithlessadvantagedgroupsandcommunities;and

enhancingthenatural and historic environmentforfuturegenerations,includingdesignatedsitesandgreenspaceclosetowherepeoplelive.

Toincreaseawareness,understanding,careandresponsibleuseofthenaturalandculturalheritage

Tosupportthesustainablemanagementanduseoftheoutdoorstomeetarangeofsocial,economicandenvironmentalobjectives

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AllRangerServiceswereaskedtocaptureinformationaboutselectedaspectsoftheirworkagainstthesethreeaimsfortheperiodApril2010andMarch2011.34returnsfromapossible63RangerServiceswerereceived,includingasmallnumberoflocalauthorities(whomweparticularlythankfortheircontribution).

TheRangerServicescontributingtothis2010/11reportarelistedinAnnex1.Theyrepresentjustover190Rangerposts(justover160fulltimeequivalents)andcovernearly700,000hectares(nearly10%ofScotland).OveralltheyareagoodsampleofthecurrentdiversityofprovisionwithinScotland–varyinginsizeandtypeofServiceanditssetting–urban,rural,upland,lowland,mainland,island,coastalandinland.Thesampleis,however,differentfromthatof2009/10,withcontributionsfromServicesofdifferentsizeandoperatingindifferentsettings.Forthisreason,directcomparisonswiththefiguresinthe2009/10reportshouldnotbemade.

ManyRangerServicesdidnotprovidereturnsandwhilethepresentedinformationisimpressiveinitself,thedatasignificantlyunder-representstheoverallcontributionthatScotland’sRangerServicesdeliverforpeopleandnature.

AsimilarexercisewillberepeatedfortheperiodApril2011toMarch2012,forSNHandCairngormsNationalParkAuthoritysupportedRangerServicesonly.ThenextanalysistocoverallRangerServicesinScotlandwillberequestedforApril2013toMarch2014whichwehopewillincludedatafromalargernumberofRangerServices.

ForfurtherinformationpleasecontactAlisonMatheson,ScottishNaturalHeritage,GreatGlenHouse,LeachkinRoad,Inverness,IV38NWTel(DD)01463725209alison.matheson@snh.gov.uk

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Ranger Aim 1 ToensureawarmwelcomeandprovidesupporttohelppeopleenjoytheoutdoorsOver4millionvisitsweremadetotheplaces and facilitiesmanaged,andbenefittingfromtheinformationprovided,byRangerServices.Thesevereearlywinterweatherof10/11requiredanextraspecialeffortbyRangerServicestokeepaccessopentoenablevisitstotheoutdoorstocontinue.

RangerServicesusednearly2000waysto promote the outdoors.RangerServicesusedarangeofdifferentapproachesinraisingawarenessofoutdooropportunitiesinthelocalarea,including:advertisinginTouristInformationCentres,localhotels,shopsandwaitingrooms;andusingwebsites,touristbrochures,television,radioandthepress.RangerServicesalsousedthepersonaltouch,forexampleby:attendingHighland

Games,agriculturalandcommunityshows;gettingintouchwithGeneralPractitionerstoletthemknowaboutranger-ledhealthwalks;visitinglocalequalitygroups;andmeetingandgreetingvisitorsarrivinginthearea,forexampleontheferry.

RangerServiceshavebeenworkingparticularlyhardtoencourage more people from different backgrounds to enjoy the outdoors.Examplesofgroupstargetedinclude,theveryyoung,elderlypeople,localcommunitygroups,childrenwithbehaviouraldifficulties,peoplefromdisadvantagedbackgrounds,peoplewithdisabilities,blackandethnicminoritygroups,andoffenders.

RangerServiceshavebeenarranging events which are accessible by all people regardless of ability and background,forexampleby:runningguidedwalksforarangeofabilities;arrangingtransportforpeoplewithlimitedmobility;andactivelyencouragingpeoplefromallbackgroundstocomealongtoevents.

The Achievements of Ranger Services

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Ranger Services have been helping a wide range of people to develop new outdoor skills. For example:

Aberdeen City and Angus Council Ranger Services workedwithoffendersfromlocalprisonstosupportthemtoachievetheJohnMuirAward,startinginprisonandcontinuinginthecommunityafterrelease.Thishelpedtheprisonerstodevelopskills,andbuildasenseofachievementandselfworth,aswellashelpingtoreducetheratesofre-offending.

Balmoral Estate Ranger Serviceofferedaweeklyworkexperienceplacementtoayoungpersonwhohadbeenexcludedfromschoolfordisruptivebehaviour.ThisinvolvedworkingwiththeRangerServiceonedayaweek,mainlyonhabitatmanagement,andhelpedtheyoungpersontocompletetheirtimeatschool.Theplacementalsohelpedtheyoungpersontodevelopaninterestinworkingtowardsacareerinfarming.

The Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site Ranger Serviceprovidedacourseforyoungpeoplewhowereundecidedon,ornotreadyfor,aspecificvocationalcourseoremployment.Thisaidedtheirpersonalandvocationaldevelopment.WorkingwithVoluntaryActionOrkneytheyalsodeliveredacourseonstudyingthenaturalandculturalenvironmentforyoungpeopleagedbetween16-19,whowereunsureoftheirnextstepstowardsemploymentorfurthertraining.

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority Ranger ServicehostedeightFutureJobsFundsplacementsforlocal18-25yearoldlong-termunemployedpeople.ThisprovidedthemwithanopportunitytogainworkrelatedskillsandskillsspecifictoRangering.

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Foula Ranger Serviceencouragedpeoplewhoareunabletowalkveryfar(thefrail,elderlyandfamilieswithveryyoungchildren)toenjoytheoutdoorsbyofferingaseriesofguideddriveswithshortwalks,whichledtoviewpointswheretheycouldsitandenjoythescenery.TheRangerServicefoundthatlessconfidentwalkerswerereassuredbyknowingtherewassomewheretheycouldsitdownonawalk,andthisencouragedthemoutofthecarandontoawalk.

The Knoydart Foundation Ranger Serviceranatourforagroupwithlearningdisabilitieswholiketobepartofasmallteamspendingtimeawaytogether.TheyhadrefreshmentsatoneofScotland’smostremoteandinaccessiblerestaurants,enjoyedalow-levelhillwalkandvisitedascenicwaterfall.

Glen Tanar Ranger ServiceledhealthwalkswiththeCairngormsOutdoorAccessTrusttohelppeoplewithhealthissuesimprovetheirhealthandconfidencebyexploringtheoutdoors.

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Ranger Aim 2 Toincreaseawareness,understanding,careandresponsibleuseofthenaturalandculturalheritagePublic events–Over85,000peopleattendedRangerledevents.Thesecoveredavastrangeoftopicsandinterestssuchasadarkskiesnight,atopdogsdayout,archaeologyforyoungpeople,afungalforay,wildfoodforaging,wildlifewatching,andwildlifecrimeawareness.

Education–Over60,000youngpeopleandadultsineducationbenefittedfromworkingwithaRangeroncurricular/studyrelatedprojects.Someexamplesare:helpingwitheco-schools,speciesidentification,landscapeawareness,land-usestudies,mini-beasts,speciesidentification,marinelife,habitatsurveying,farmingandlocalfood,endangeredspecies,andpollution.

Volunteering–Over5,000peoplewereinvolvedinvolunteeringwithRangerServices,andthisamountedtonearly17,000volunteerdays.Thetaskscarriedoutwerewiderangingandincludedpathmaintenanceandmonitoring,habitatandspeciessurveying,treeplanting,non-nativeinvasivespeciesremoval,litterclearance,welcomingvisitorstovisitorcentres,helpingtoleadguidedwalksandeducationalactivities.

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Hoddom and Kinmount Ranger ServiceorganisedpracticalconservationworkforvolunteersfromaresidentialcentreinLockerbieforadultswithlearningdifficulties,acquiredbraininjuriesormentalhealthproblemsaswellasthoseontheautisticspectrum.Thestaffandresidentscompletedvarioustasksincludingpathmaintenance,scrubclearance,treeplantingandpondcreation.Aswellasenhancingtheirunderstandingofthenaturalworld,theinitiativewasavaluableopportunitytohelpovercomesocialisolationamongpeoplewithdisabilitiesandmakeapositivecontributiontotheirlocalcommunity.Moreover,thevolunteersdevelopedastronggroupidentity,andinvolvementintheprojecthadapositiveimpactontheirlivesintermsofpsychologicalwell-beingandphysicalhealth.

Knoydart Foundation Ranger Servicerantwice-yearlybeachcleans,withthehelpofvolunteersfromtheJohnMuirTrust,FriendsofKnoydart,theBritishTrustforConservationVolunteersandthearmy(withtwohelicopters!).RemovingrubbishfromthebeachesinKnoydartcanbealogisticalchallenge,tosaytheleast.

Sanday Ranger ServiceworkedwithvolunteerstoBag-the-Bruck,andremovedvastamountsofdangerousandunsightlylitterfromthecoastline.

Volunteers with Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park Ranger Servicehavebeengrowingjuniperandspignel(ascarceplantfoundinunimprovedgrassland)inLochwinnochCommunityGardenandinapolytunnel.Sofar70juniperplantshavebeenplantedoutalongwithsameamountofaspenandearedwillowata17hectaremoorlandsiteandatMuirshielCountryParkwithsupportfromfundersandthelocallandowner.TwolocalhighschoolsarenowpropagatingthesespeciesandworkingwiththeRangerServiceattheirsitesandintheCommunityGarden.

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Ranger Aim 3 Tosupportthesustainablemanagementanduseoftheoutdoorstomeetarangeofsocial,economicandenvironmentalobjectivesRangershaveextensiveknowledge,andwide-rangingskillsinpromotingtheenjoyment,understandingandcareofScotland’soutdoors.Theseareputtogooduse,addingsignificantvalue,throughthepartnerships,projectsandinitiativesthatRangerscontributeto.RangerServicessupportedover300ofthese,andtheyincludedLocalAccessForums,CorePathPlanning,CommunityCouncilsandothercommunitygroups,BusinessPartnerships,Tourismorganisations,DevelopmentTrusts,Eco-schools,PartnershipAgainstWildlifeCrime,EnvironmentalOrganisations,GovernmentOrganisations,LandscapePartnerships,BiodiversityPartnerships,andyouthgroups.

RangerServiceshaveanimportantroleincontributingtobiodiversityconservationthroughtheirworkonhabitatsandspecies.Theycontributedtothemonitoringandmanagementof12UKBiodiversityActionPlan(BAP)PriorityHabitatsandalsomadeasignificantcontributiontotheconservationof18PrioritySpeciesand47localhabitatandspeciesactionplans.AnumberofthespeciesarealsoontheScottishBiodiversitylist.

Workcarriedoutrangedfromminkmonitoringandtrappingforwatervoleconservation,batmonitoring,woodlandmanagementtosupportinvertebrates,woodlandmonitoring,andinvasivespeciesremoval.Inadditiontothesepracticaltasks,avarietyofinterpretationandeducationworkwasalsocarriedouttoraiseawarenessofmanyofthehabitatsandspecies.

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Explore Abernethy Ranger ServiceworkedcloselywiththeNethyBridgeTouristAssociationwhichaimstoencouragetouriststothearea,andtoensurethattheyhaveagoodexperiencewhentheygetthere.TheRangerServiceaddedvaluetotheworkoftheAssociationbygivingadviceaboutwhichopportunitiesintheoutdoorstopromote,andhelpingtoensurethatthepromotedpathswerewellmaintained.Theyalsoprovidedawelcomeinthevisitorcentreandarangeofeventsandactivitiesalldesignedtomakeamorememorablestay.

Dundee City Council Countryside Ranger ServiceheldaBioBlitzEventatTrottickPondsLocalNatureReserve.Theeventwasheldover24hourswiththeaimofrecordingasmanydifferentspeciesofplantsandanimalsaspossible.SupportcamefromapartnershipofpublicandcommunityorganisationsincludingTaysideBiodiversityPartnership,HillcrestHousingAssociation,BBCBreathingPlaces,DundeeMuseumServices,DundeeNaturalistsSociety,BuglifeScotlandandcolleaguesfromFifeRangerService.FieldexpertsstartedonSaturdayeveningrecordingbatsandmoths.OnSundayoverfiftylocalpeoplejoinedintheactivitieswithsweepnetting,branchshakingandponddippingalladdingtorecordsforthesite.Atotalof230specieswererecorded.Aswellaspromotingcommunityparticipationinnatureconservationthisinformationwillhelpguidefuturesitemanagement.

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Annex 1Ranger Services Contributing To This Report

AberdeenCityCouncilRangerServiceAngusCouncilRangerServiceAthollEstateRangerServiceBalmoralEstateRangerService*BrahanRangerServiceBuccleuchRangerService–BowhillBuccleuchRangerService–DalkeithBuccleuchRangerService–DrumlanrigClydeMuirshielRegionalParkDundeeCityCouncilRangerServiceEdayRangerServiceExploreAbernethyRangerService*FairIsleRangerServiceFinlaystoneRangerServiceFoulaRangerServiceGalsonRangerServiceGlenlivetEstateRangerService*

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GlenTanarRangerService*HeartofNeolithicOrkneyWorldHeritageSiteRangerServiceHopetounHouseRangerServiceHoddomandKinmountRangerServiceKelburnEstateRangerServiceKnoydartRangerServiceLochLomondandtheTrossachsNationalParkAuthorityRangerServiceMountStuartIsleofButeRangerServiceMullandIonaRangerServiceNorthHarrisRangerServiceTheHighlandCouncilRangerService(BadenochandStrathspey)*TheNationalTrustforScotlandRangerServiceRothiemurchusRangerService*RumRangerServiceSandayRangerService,OrkneyScapaFlowLandscapePartnershipSchemeRangerSouthIslesRangerService,Orkney

* report provided to Cairngorms National Park Authority

UsingtargetedandproportionateAction,PromotionandAdvice,ouraimsare:

– Highqualitynatureandlandscapesthatareresilienttochangeanddeliverpublicvalue

– NatureandlandscapesthatmakeScotlandabetterplaceinwhichtolive,workandvisit

– Morepeopleexperiencing,enjoyingandvaluingournatureandlandscapes

– NatureandlandscapesasassetscontributingmoretotheScottisheconomy

Ouractionsinvolve:– Securingthemanagementof

Scotland’snaturalassetstodelivertheNationalOutcomesintheScottishGovernment’sNationalPerformanceFramework.

– Assemblingandpresentingevidenceandinterpretationtoshapethewaythatnaturalassetssupportinvestmentandsecurepublicbenefits.

Oursuccessdependsonworkingwithothersincludingnationalandlocalgovernment,nationalparkauthorities,otherpublicbodies,landmanagers,businesses,voluntaryorganisations,communitygroupsandindividuals.

Wewelcomediversityandvaluebuildingonthedifferencesindividualsbring.

Looking after all of Scotland’s nature and landscapes, across all of Scotland, for everyone

Delivering a national service, locally

OurworksupportstheScottishGovernment’sPurpose:to focus government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth

www.snh.gov.uk©ScottishNaturalHeritage2012

ISBN:978-1-85397-833-3

PrintCode:JTCP0.1k0312

Allimages©LorneGill/SNHexcept:G.Logan/SNHp4,S.Scott/SNHp7,J.MacPherson/SNHp10

Design:KennethGray,Edinburgh