Two Lanarkshire nature spots have received a financial boost to employ outdoor rangers to take care of the areas and support visitors.
Seven Lochs partnership will take on two new visitor operations staff after being awarded nearly £18,000 in Better Places Green Recovery funding; while Chryston-based Cloudberry Communities are taking on three part-time rangers after receiving nearly £16,000.
Stretching from Coatbridge to the east end of Glasgow, the Seven Lochs wetland zone is Scotland’s largest urban nature park.
It includes Lochend loch in Drumpellier country park along with the neighbouring Monkland Canal, Garnqueen and Johnston in Glenboig and Gartcosh respectively, and Bishop, Gartloch, Frankfield and Hogganfield lochs across the local authority boundary.
The wetland park includes five nature reserves and has a walking trail linking the east and west of the site – which is bordered in North Lanarkshire by the woodlands cared for by Cloudberry Communities.
Moodiesburn Glen and neighbouring Bluebell Dell in Stepps and Cardowan woodlands all fall into the realm of the area’s Northern Corridor community volunteers.
Recruitment adverts for the posts note that the new workers will take on clean-ups, address litter and work with police and council officers to patrol hotspots and tackle anti-social behaviour, described as “a major problem which [is] damaging to wildlife, visitors and the local community.”
Environment minister Mairi McAllan, the Clydesdale MSP, said: “It’s great to see and hear the breadth of organisations that are receiving support from this funding; countryside rangers are having a significant positive impact in educating and encouraging visitors on how they can enjoy the countryside responsibly.”
Bridget Jones of Nature Scot added that the new roles would “support the management of Scotland’s busiest and most popular natural and scenic areas”, adding: “Landscapes and wildlife are among our biggest visitor attractions; this investment can connect people with nature and help everyone responsibly enjoy some of the country’s most spectacular locations, while ensuring that we protect and respect the places we visit.”
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