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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE PEAK NATIONAL PARK RANGER
The Ranger’s job is one that many people might envy - out and about in the wonderful Peak Park landscape, meeting different people, getting involved in exciting rescues. Here we follow Neil through a typical working day and find out just how much a Ranger manages to fit into his busy life.
- It’s 8.30 in the morning and Neil is planning his work for the day over breakfast. He will be visiting a school that morning so he jots down some notes on important points to put over to the children.
- 9 o’clock and Neil arrives at the Rangers’ office to check any messages that might have been left for him. He starts to plan out the project for a group of conservation volunteers who will be working on the reconstruction of a badly worn footpath.
- 9.30 and off to Peakland Primary School where the upper junior class is making plans for a wildlife garden and pond in part of the field behind the school. Neil talks to the children about the different plans that are ‘natural’ in the Peak District National Park and they discuss the origins of some other plants found in their gardens at home. Neil is shown the site for the new pond and makes some suggestions about planting to encourage both pond life and garden wildlife.
- 11.45 and back in the office Neil updates his school file with details about Peakland Primary’s project and checks on progress in other school projects. He answers a letter from a potential volunteer who is interested in doing some conservation work.
- By 12.30 Neil is ready for some lunch. He eats his sandwiches while he reads through a report by the Pennine Way Maintenance Team.
- At 1.00 pm Neil is outside finishing preparation of a sign to replace a badly worn sign at a path junction. The sign must be clear to read and strong enough to withstand some pretty rough weather.
- By 1.15 Neil is off again on his travels. He calls first of all on Mr Lomas at Top Farm. Mr Lomas wants to know the best way of making sure that walkers follow the exact footpath through is fields and do not tray through the hayfield just before it is due to be cut. Neil suggests making such that a strip is kept cut close to the wall where the stile can be seen.
Just by Top Farm is the work signs at the path junction which is replaced with the new sign Neil has brought. Neil surveys the other footpaths, stiles and signs in this area a makes a note of any repairs needed.
- By 3.00 in the afternoon Neil is back in the office logging the information on the footpaths he has just surveyed. Now he plans out the work programme for the conservation team who will be working in resurfacing the worn footpath. Neil needs to record details of its exact position, the ease of access to the path, the time needed to complete this project and to make notes concerning the safety of the team.
- At 4.00 pm an urgent phone call is put through to Neil. Susan has come off the moors at the wrong place. She has managed to find a remote phone box but has no idea where she is. Neil asks her to describe what she can see from the phone box she is in, so that he can give her directions for the easiest way back to her car. A very grateful Susan says goodbye and sets off for home. Without Neil’s knowledge of the area, her plight might have resulted in a call for the Mountain Rescue Team.
- 4.30 pm and Neil gets back to the paperwork, preparing ‘briefing notes’ for the part-time Rangers who will be on duty this weekend. The Patrol Rangers need to be aware of anything that has happened during the week and of any events that might require their presence.
- At 5 o’clock the Smith family calls at the Rangers’ office and Neil gives them some advice about things to do in the area. They are camping and are anxious to find some ‘indoor activities’ as it looks as if the weather might be changeable. “By the way” they ask “what is the weather forecast for the weekend?” Rangers are expected to know everything!
- By 5.30 pm Neil is on his way home but work isn’t over yet. In the early spring the Rangers have put up ‘Lambing Time’ signs to warn visitors to take care when young lambs are around. Now it is summer and the lambs have grown, so Neil takes down some of the signs on his route home.
Back home Neil can put his feet of for a little while, but if there is an emergency in his area, he may be out again as part of the Mountain Rescue Team.
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