A NEW ranger service has been launched at Warrington which will focus solely on nine woodland parks.
The service involves relocating rangers and changing their role to target resources and skills more appropriately, achieving added value to further develop and sustain woodland parks and sites of special scientific interest such as Risley Moss and Rixton Clay Pits.
It aims to improve the quality of life for local people now and for future generations through the promotion, protection and development of safe and accessible woodland parks and nature reserves. Together with the support of the landscape section and Street Scene staff, the rangers will help to raise the standards of woodland parks throughout the town.
Nine rangers are currently employed by the council and recruitment of a 10th will take place shortly to complete the team. The rangers all have specialist skills including environmental education, events and activities provision, sensitive habitat management and monitoring.
The nine woodland parks now offering the ranger service are Birchwood Forest Park, Burtonwood Local Nature Reserve, Culcheth Linear, Lymm Dam, Oakwoodgate, Risley Moss, Rixton Claypits, Sankey Valley and the Transpennine Trail.
Rangers will deliver many benefits such as the protection of wildlife and promotion of nature conservation. They will work with and involve the community in their local green environments to increase awareness of the wildlife and heritage value of parks and green spaces.
A comprehensive programme of public events will take place including community festivals, health walks and family activities. The ranger service offers environmental education opportunities to local schools. Topics include pond dipping and minibeast studies, conservation and biodiversity issues and the human effects on the environment.
The rangers will provide a reassuring identifiable presence helping to combat anti-social behaviour, creating a safer environment for people to enjoy when they visit these sites.
Several local parks Risley Moss, Lymm Dam and Walton Hall have already been awarded the prestigious Green Flag, the national standard for excellence. The new ranger service will play a key part in ambitious plans to make sure all the borough’s parks achieve Green Flag status in the future.
Paula Darlington, head of environmental management, said: “Woodland parks are a vital part of community life. They provide safe places for our children to play and enable us all to get closer to and learn about nature and wildlife. Our parks are as much about economic prosperity and Warrington’s image, the visitor economy, climate change and healthy living as they are about leisure and recreation.
“Effective management of our woodland parks as part of the ecology project underpins the broader Transforming Warrington strategy, an ambitious economic and social development programme which aims to make our town a better place to live and work for decades to come.
“The new ranger service will help us protect and develop these wonderful places more effectively for everyone to enjoy now and in the future.”
Photographed: The Mayor, Coun Graham Wellborn celebrates the awarding of six Green Flags last year for Burtonwood Cemetery, Fox Covert Cemetery, Lymm Dam, Risley Moss, Walton Crematorium and Walton Crematorium.
