What do Rangers Do?

Quantock rangers, Andy and Tim ready for action, outside the old AONB office in Nether Stowey

  • Quantock rangers, Andy and Tim ready for action, outside the old AONB office in Nether Stowey

"Hat Watch"

Click on the framed picture for tour stop 1

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  • Rangers help the public to enjoy the hills –
    • provide information and advice
    • Undertake guided walks and events for the public
    • Educational visits
    • Feed into leaflets etc
  • Rangers ensure that the tracks and paths are open and usable
    • Conduct recreation audits of promoted routes to ensure they are safe and usable
    • Will report any problems to the Rights of Way Authority and liase with them to have the issues dealt with
  • Rangers work with farmers and landowners to protect and enhance the landscape
    • Provide advice on Agri-Environment Schemes
    • Work with farmer / landowners on issues such as roadside trees, sheep worrying, hedgerow management etc
    • Help with setting up contracts for farmers where the work is being undertaken on common land
  • Rangers work with volunteers to undertake practical conservation tasks that will enhance special habitats for plants and animals
    • Scrub clearance
    • Bracken control (both mechanical & chemical)
    • Recreation Audits
    • Livestock Management (Exmoor Ponies on Cothelstone Hill)
    • Swaling (controlled burning of the heather)
    • Monitoring (bird ringing, invasive plant species, recreation resources)

‘Spot the Ranger’ pictures

..and here they are doing it!

"Trucks"

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  • ..clearing woodland
  • …planting trees
  • …fixing a gate
  • …leading a treasure hunt
  • …clearing fallen trees with a chainsaw
  • …making a new footpath
  • …putting in stock-proof gates
  • …taking a water bowser into the hills to supply ponies with drinking water
  • …leading a wildlife-watching expedition
  • …listening hard to the dawn chorus
  • …deep in the bluebell woods with a school group
  • …putting in a sign post for the Quantock Greenway

"People are so Puzzling!"

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  • …putting up nest boxes for dormice
  • …picking up litter with volunteers
  • …helping contractors putting in posts with a pile driver
  • …giving information, good and bad
  • …having a cup of tea with local teachers
  • …helping Highway Authority staff putting up a new road sign

"Trucks"

Click on the framed picture for tour stop 3

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