Scotland’s Rangers

Cover: Buccleuch Estates Ranger Lindsay Menmuir and Volunteer Ranger Rachel McAleese lead a practical conservation task at Bowhill, Selkirk.

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Scottish Natural Heritage

Scottish Natural Heritage and our predecessor body, the Countryside Commission for Scotland (CCS), has long been associated with Ranger Services providing training, funding, advice and support since 1974. Rangers have a very special set of skills – they are good with people, have knowledge about the natural and cultural heritage, and a strong commitment to increasing enjoyment, understanding and care of these resources by and for the public. With these skills Rangers make an important contribution to key Scottish Government policies including: increasing health and well-being; encouraging people to be active citizens; tackling social inclusion; supporting sustainable economic development; and enhancing the natural and historic environment for future generations.

The Scottish Countryside Rangers Association

In November 1974 fourteen Countryside Rangers completed the first National In-Service Training Course run by the Countryside Commission for Scotland. It was a very useful experience so they agreed to set up the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association (SCRA) which continues to be the voice of Rangers today. SCRA promotes the beneficial role Rangers play in managing Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage and fostering public enjoyment and understanding of it. It champions professional standards for Ranger Services and encourages exchange of ideas and experience among Rangers world-wide. We are very proud to be a founding member of the International Ranger Federation, formed on the shores of Loch Lomond in 1991, and of our continuing contribution to the international family of Rangers.

Ruth Grant, President, Scottish Countryside Rangers Association

Ian Ross, Chair, Scottish Natural Heritage

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Linking people and place

Rangers work mostly outdoors, managing land and water, including for conservation and recreation. They provide a bridge between visitors and local communities, businesses and agencies – farmers, game keepers, foresters, access officers, biodiversity officers, police and many others. They are the eyes and ears that help look after Scotland’s wonderful landscapes and wildlife in National, Regional and Country Parks, National Nature Reserves, forests, coastal areas, estates and urban green spaces, on path networks and Scotland’s Great Trails and other long- distance routes.

Sharing local knowledge

Rangers are multi-skilled and adaptable. Increasingly today’s Rangers focus on community engagement, for example through volunteering; on promoting healthy lifestyles through outdoor experiences; and working with minority and disadvantaged groups. Underpinning this, they conserve natural and historic assets, and look after visitor facilities. Rangers know their patch intimately and pass on their enthusiasm on to many people — locals, visitors from further afield, educational groups and volunteers — helping to increase enjoyment and improve well-being.

Working in different settings

Around 350 Rangers work for around 60 employers in Scotland. Ranger Services are provided by local and national organisations in the public sector and by non-governmental organisations, private landowners, and local communities. With different environments and employers, common aims are vital and have been agreed by SNH and partners. They are: to ensure a warm welcome and help people enjoy the outdoors; to increase understanding and responsible use of the natural and cultural heritage; and to support sustainable management and use of the outdoors. These aims are endorsed by SNH, SCRA and the major employers of Rangers.

Rangers offer a warm welcome to visitors.

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lUsing the outdoors to promote wellbeing through involvement with the natural and cultural heritage, relaxation, exercise and volunteering

lManaging, enhancing and monitoring natural and historic assets

lHelping to deliver Local Biodiversity Action Plans and reduce wildlife crime

lEncouraging public engagement with wildlife

lGiving local information on weather and other hazards and supporting mountain and water rescue services

lEnsuring visitor provisions are safe and doing risk assessments

Smarter

Healthier

Stronger and Safer

Wealthier and Fairer

Rangers contribute to delivering national, local and organisational priorities in the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework, Local Authority Single Outcome Agreements, and business plans.

lProviding information, education and interpretation for people of all ages and social groups

lDeveloping Ranger skills through continuing professional development and supporting apprentices to gain experience

lWorking with people from all sectors of society and encouraging them to visit sites and facilities, and to spend time in the area

lGenerating income for communities through sustainable green tourism

Greener

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Delivering priorities

l Greener

1. North Lanarkshire Council’s Local Biodiversity Action Plan features wildflower meadows. Local volunteers help Rangers to look after the meadow at Greenhead Moss Community Nature Park. On the north coast Farr Glebe meadow is a refuge for the endangered great yellow bumblebee. Highland Council Ranger Paul Castle works closely with the local community to manage this beautiful spot.

2. Forestry Commission Scotland Rangers run wildlife watching events across the country. Emily Holmes and participants in sportaberdeen’s Golden Games for the 65+ age group watch red squirrels. Emily also runs dawn chorus, fungi and tree identification walks and works with Aberdeenshire Council Rangers to improve wildlife watching opportunities at Bennachie Visitor Centre.

l Smarter

3. Perth and Kinross Rangers organise a series of “waggy good days” as a way of encouraging responsible dog ownership. Key messages include responsibilities under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and cleaning up after your dog.

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4. SCRA’s Junior Ranger programme for 11 to 18 year olds leads to a Junior Ranger Award. It focusses on enjoyment and outdoor learning to develop environmental awareness, skills and understanding of the Ranger profession. In 2013-4 it was piloted by East Lothian Council, Historic Scotland at Holyrood Park and Hopetoun House Ranger Services. Pictured is East Lothian’s group enjoying a fungus foray.

5. In the Curriculum for Excellence outdoor learning is described as being exciting, different, relevant and motivating. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable Rangers are ideally placed lead school groups and to help to train teachers to run their own outdoor learning classes. Here a Historic Scotland Ranger works with primary school children at Blackness Castle on the shore of the Firth of Forth.

6. Scott Mason was Stirling Council’s first Modern Apprentice Ranger. During his 3 years with the Ranger Services Scott gained new skills and achieved a SVQ in Environmental Conservation. He is now a fisheries officer with Stirling Council, combining his love of angling with the skills developed as an apprentice.

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l Healthier

7. Rangers at Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park deliver a 12-week Branching Out course for clients referred by mental health services. Activities range from bush craft and removing non-native species to environmental art and photography. Branching Out is a concept developed by Forestry Commission Scotland in partnership with NHS Scotland and mental health charities.

8. The Whitelee Stroller Striders, a group of mums with babies in buggies, enjoy fresh air and camaraderie during their brisk 4-mile walk around the windfarm site in East Renfrewshire. Come rain or shine, the Countryside Rangers are always there to lead the way or lend a helping hand.

l Stronger and Safer

9. Rangers play an important role in visitor safety. Cairngorm Mountain Ranger Nic Bullivant gives advice on weather conditions, clothing and equipment to walkers setting off into the mountains. On Loch Lomond, National Park Rangers promote safety on the water, respect for other users and manage navigational Byelaws.

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l Wealthier and Fairer

10. Mull Eagle Watch is a partnership of Mull and Iona Community Trust, RSPB, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and Police Scotland. Mull’s wildlife, including white-tailed and golden eagles, attracts thousands of visitors. Rangers provide guided visits to Mull Eagle Watch. Income from Ranger-led guided walks, totalling £60k since 2003, is used to support a Seasonal Ranger post and small-scale community-led projects. Pictured are MICT Seasonal Ranger, Rachel French, and RSPB Community and Tourism Officer, John Clare, receiving a Green Tourism Gold Award in 2014.

11. A group from Deafblind Scotland enjoyed a great sense of achievement when they climbed the path up Conic Hill overlooking Loch Lomond. They were supported by specialist communicators and Rangers from Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority. Using information in audio, Braille, moon and large print they also learned about the environment of the Park.

12. Dundee City Council Rangers ran a weekly multicultural walking group to encourage cultural exchange and new understanding of participants’ home city in the relaxing setting of Broughty Ferry beach.

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Working together

The Scottish Countryside Rangers Association (SCRA) represents professional, volunteer and Junior Rangers, people working in associated professions and members of the public of all ages interested in supporting its aims and activities. Its priorities are to: raise the profile of Rangers; champion their professional standing; broaden engagement with the public through its website, events and projects; and support and participate in international activities. It has twinning arrangements with Iceland to swap jobs for a season and with Malawi to provide equipment and clothing.

www.scra-online.co.uk

The Ranger Development Partnership (RDP) is a forum of managers of the larger Ranger Services, SCRA and Scottish Natural Heritage that works to ensure policy on Rangers is fit-for-purpose and to advise on and raise the profile of Rangers. It endorsed the policy statement Rangers in Scotland (SNH 2008) and contributed to SCRA’s on-line Ranger Manual. Members host a biannual Ranger Rendezvous in turn.

The Europarc Federation brings together protected areas, government departments, NGOs, and businesses in 36 countries. As Rangers are vital to the management of protected areas, they contribute to, and benefit from, the exchange of experience, expertise, and from collaboration.

www.europarc.org

International Ranger Federation (IRF) comprises around 70 associations from 50 countries in 6 continents. It runs a triennial World Congress; promotes Rangers without Borders with on-the-ground practical support; helps new associations; organises World Ranger Day (31 July); and presents awards for outstanding contributions to rangering and conservation. Its charity arm, The Thin Green Line, raises funds to support families of Rangers killed and injured during their work.

www.internationalrangers.org www.thingreenline.org

Printed on Essential Offset, a wood-free FSC® certified paper.

PhotographyCover photo Lorne Gill, SNH

P2 Cairngorm Mountain Ranger Service

P4 Bob Reid; John Crossley; Alison Sutherland, Aberdeenshire Council; Perth and Kinross Council Ranger Service

P5 Jen Edwards; © Crown Copyright reproduced courtesy of Historic Scotland. www.historicscotlandimages.gov.uk; Stirling Council

P6 Lorne Gill, SNH; Whitelee Countryside Ranger Service; Cairngorm Mountain Ranger Service; Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority

P7 Mull & Iona Ranger Service; Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority; Dundee City Council Ranger Service

AcknowledgementsSCRA wishes to thank Forestry Commission Scotland, Historic Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage for financial support, and the many Rangers, Ranger Managers and others who provided information for this booklet.

www.scra-online.co.uk

The Scottish Countryside Rangers Association is a Charity registered in Scotland. Charity number SCO43188.