Opportunity to volunteer as a countryside ranger
Opportunities to train as a voluntary countryside ranger to support
the Broads Authority’s work in the river valleys of the Broads have
become available this month.
The Broads Authority is expanding its Assistant Countryside Ranger
team which is trained to carry out a variety of valuable recreation and
conservation work in the Broads.
Lee Cozens, Countryside Ranger for the Yare Valley said:
“Volunteers are highly valued members of the Broads Authority as
they are out there doing a vast amount of incredibly important work for
us and support everything we do. They are the eyes and ears of the
Broads. Although they’re voluntary we work with them like colleagues
and they quickly become friends.”
The backbone of the work is helping to maintain and improve rights
of way and recreational sites and be a point of information for the
public. But there are many more opportunities for getting involved in
all kinds of work such as construction, footpath surveying, wildlife
monitoring, leading guided walks, wherry crewing, working with school
children and helping at Broads Authority events. ACRs can choose either
to work at specific sites such as the Barton Boardwalk or Hoveton
Riverside Park or in one of the four river valleys.
ACRs are given a uniform and six full days training over six
months, with some expenses paid. Initially they work in pairs or small
groups with existing volunteers. In their second year they will be
offered advanced training. There are opportunities to work at weekends
or mid-week. Volunteers are expected to make a regular commitment,
which, in the case of weekend working needs to be a minimum of two days
a month.
“The work will appeal to outdoor, nature loving, sociable people, who
enjoy physical exercise,” said Lee. “ It’s a great chance to see parts
of the Broads you haven’t seen before because you will be taken to work
in places off the beaten track. There is a great social side too, as we
have regular get togethers like a summer barbecue, a Christmas party
and a canoeing day.”
Assistant Countryside Rangers must be over 18 years, physically
fit, and have a driving licence. There are currently 28 ACRs in the
Broads Authority team who range from students to the early retired and
come from all walks of life, including farmers, printers and engineers.
The experience can lead to careers within the environmental field
and several ACRs has gone on to get jobs with other organisations,
while a few now work fulltime for the Broads Authority.
“We are looking for people to give a regular commitment and once
they are trained we would like them to stay for at least a year,” said
Lee. “The deeper they get into the scheme the more complex and varied
the work becomes. If they show an interest in a particular sphere we
try to find appropriate training courses. Our ACRs are such lovely,
active, interesting people they quickly become not just colleagues but
friends. I couldn’t do my job without them.”
If you are interested telephone the Broads Authority on 01603 610734 or email broads@broads-authority.gov.uk
for an application pack which must be returned by October 28th.
Interviews will be held on November 12th and the successful applicants
will be invited to an introductory Christmas coppicing day on November
27th when they will be able to meet the other volunteers.
13/10/05
