Rangers co-operate closely with other organisations connected with the Park. The National Trust and English Nature have their own wardens or field staff but also call on the experience and co-operation of the Rangers.

Several of the National Park Rangers are funded or part-funded by Forest Enterprise or by Severn Trent Water, North West Water or Yorkshire Water. The Rangers work in partnership with these agencies in the interests of conservation and recreation.

Rangers assist other departments of the National Park Authority, including monitoring sites on behalf of ecologists and archaeologists, or contributing their local knowledge to management and interpretation plans.

The Effects of the Weather Both an extra cold winter and a hot, dry summer may cause problems that call upon the Ranger’s experience. Moorland Fires A long, hot, dry summer can result in the peat moors becoming so dry that a carelessly discarded match is enough to ignite the peat into a raging fire which, because of the nature of the material, can burn for weeks. Rangers will be involved in organising fire fighting parties to combat the blaze as well as in careful management to try and halt the spread of the blaze. Arctic Conditions Winters in the Peak District may involve sub-zero temperatures and show which can be whipped into mountainous drifts by biting winds and which can last for weeks. Sheep can be marooned on the moorland trapped in snowdrifts and out of reach of the farmer who may himself be trapped. The Ranger Service can become involved in finding, feeding and digging out the trapped animals. Rangers are also vitally important in helping walkers who may become lost in such conditions.

• Rangers have been instrumental in organising environmental awareness activities for the local people, such as environmental summer playdays for primary school children
  
  
• Rangers present talks and lead a number of walks for people of all abilities.
  
  
• Rangers liaise with 50 local primary schools to set up educational schemes which aim to build closer links between the Park Authority and the local community, whilst developing pupils’ awareness of the rich environment in which they live.
  

All of the educational provision within the Ranger Service is co-ordinated by the Education and Environmental Awareness Ranger.


RANGERS AND LOCAL PEOPLE

Around 38,000 people live in the Peak District National Park. Many of these people work in the Park in jobs connected with mining and quarrying, with small-scale industry and in the tourism and service sectors. A large number of people live in the Park but travel outside the Park to work in towns and cities such as Sheffield, Manchester, Chesterfield, Matlock, Leek or Macclesfield. As well as the many full-time farmers, there are a number of part-time farmers who may have a job outside the Park and run a small farm as well. The Rangers need to know all these local people and understand their needs and problems so that they can keep their support in looking after the land.


Misunderstandings .....

There can be problems and misunderstandings between residents and visitors to the National Park. Visitors do not always understand that ‘empty’ fields of grass are part of a farm and must only be crossed by the public footpaths. Farmers may not always maintain footpaths and stiles for visitors to use. Visitors with dogs can be a major problem to farmers with grazing sheep. Even the quietest pet can quickly become a killer when faced with a field of sheep.


Good Relations

The Ranger Services has always worked closely with the local people in areas where there is a high number of visitors. In fact the Ranger Service is often the first point of contact in attempting to settle any differences between residents and visitors. The work of building good relations with residents continues through day to day contact or more formal meetings with community groups. Rangers also provide practical help to local people at times of emergency, such as moorland fires, floods and heavy snowfalls.


RANGERS AND VISITORS

There are now over 22 million visits each year to the Peak District National Park. Many people make regular visits into the Park from Sheffield, Manchester and the nearby towns. Others come from further afield to stay for a few days or longer and to walk, climb or just enjoy the countryside. The Ranger Service cannot make contact with all these millions of visitors, but it tried to provide advice and assistance whenever and wherever it might be needed.


Informal Contact

All Rangers have extensive knowledge of their area. This means that they can offer suggestions and information on where to go for a short stroll, a lengthy hike, to practice rock climbing, to go fishing, ride a bike, have a picnic or just to buy a cup of tea and a bun! They can also extend the services of the Information Centres by helping visitors to find accommodation in bed and breakfast, or guest houses (many farmers offer bed and breakfast to help the income from the farm). Rangers also have a wide knowledge of the history of the Peak District as a whole, and can tell visitors about the geology of the different areas of the Park as well as about the flora and fauna - the wildlife growing and living on the land. Rangers try to convey a conservation message in all t heir contacts with visitors.


Formal Contact

More formal contact is made with visitors through programmes of guided walks or talks to ramblers and similar groups. Contact is also made when Rangers need to enforce bye-laws on access moors and on land owned by the National Park. The initial approach to misbehaviour, such as letting dogs run free across grazing land or walking on moors that have been closed for shooting, is always one of friendly advice and education.