02 June, 2023
Almost £1m in funding for extra rangers at Scotland’s nature hot spots this summer
Many of Scotland’s most popular natural sites are receiving a staffing boost this summer, with Scottish Government funding of £900,000 to support better visitor management and help safeguard the environment for visitors and local communities.
The NatureScot Better Places funding will go directly to 24 countryside, coast and island projects across Scotland, enabling an additional 62 staff to be employed this summer across Scotland.
The extra ‘boots on the ground’ will promote the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC) and help manage visitor pressure in Shetland, Glencoe, the Pentlands, Loch Lomond, Arran, NC500, and various locations around East Lothian, North Perthshire, Islay and many more.
Funding has been awarded to 18 organisations – seven countryside trusts, five local authorities, four charities, one community group, one not-for-profit organisation and one private company (details in Notes below). This complements additional investment in rangers and visitor operations made this year by NatureScot, Forestry and Land Scotland, the National Park Authorities and Scottish Water to support the management of busy outdoor places such as the National Nature Reserves, Parks, reservoirs and forests.
Bridget Jones, NatureScot's Recreation and Paths Manager, said:
“The Better Places Fund supports rangers to promote responsible enjoyment and manage some of the busiest and most popular areas. We want to help people have positive and memorable experiences as they visit and enjoy Scotland’s dramatic landscapes of beaches, mountains, lochs and woodlands. But as we tackle the climate and biodiversity crises, we have to ensure that the country’s most spectacular locations are valued and cared for, so that they are there for future generations.”
A similar scheme funded 109 seasonal staff last year, and made a significant difference to tackling irresponsible parking, camping, fires, toileting and litter issues in many rural and coastal areas popular with staycationing tourists. Its success in improving visitor experiences and reducing visitor impacts on local communities and the environment, led to the further funding allocated for seasonal staffing in 2023.
Complementing the face-to-face engagement with visitors, VisitScotland and partner organisations will be using social media, local radio and digital marketing to educate, inspire and inform people about issues related to visiting nature hotspots this summer, such as water safety, fire safety, dog control and wildlife disturbance. The overall aim is that visitors respect, protect and enjoy Scotland’s outdoors this summer.
ENDS
Contact information
- Name
- NatureScot Media
- Telephone
- 0131 316 2655
- media@nature.scot
Notes to editors
The funded posts work in partnership with other Better Places Fund posts such as National Trust Scotland in Torridon and Glencoe, the John Muir Trust at Sandwod Bay and the NevisPartnership in Glen Nevis to provide a joined-up approach to visitor management.
Other projects receiving Better Places Funding in 2023 include:
|
Applicant |
Geographic area covered |
Visitor management hot spot area |
No. of seasonal posts awarded funding |
Full time equivalent posts |
|
ANGUSalive Leisure Trust |
Corrie Fee NNR, Glen Doll Forest, Loch Brandy |
Cairngorms National Park area |
2 rangers |
2 |
|
RSPB Scotland |
Abernethy nature reserve |
Cairngorms National Park area |
2 rangers |
2 |
|
City of Edinburgh Council |
Pentland Hills Regional Park |
Pentland Hills |
6 rangers |
6 |
|
East Lothian Council |
East Lothian coastline |
East Lothian |
6 rangers |
6 |
|
National Trust for Scotland |
Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve |
Highland Perthshire |
1 ranger |
1 |
|
National Trust for Scotland |
North Perthshire properties |
Highland Perthshire |
1 ranger |
1 |
|
Perth & Kinross Council |
Lochs Tummel, Rannoch and Tay, Glen Lyon, Schiehallion, Loch of Clunie, Loch Earn/St Fillans |
Highland Perthshire |
5 rangers |
5 |
|
Cashel Forest Trust |
Cashel Forest |
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park area |
2 rangers |
1.6 |
|
RSPB Scotland |
Loch Lomond nature reserve |
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park area |
2 rangers |
1.5 |
|
Strathfillan Community Development Trust |
Strathfillan |
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park area |
2 rangers |
2 |
|
Appin Community Development Trust |
Appin |
North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) |
1 ranger |
0.6 |
|
Community Land Outer Hebrides |
North Lewis, West Lewis, Harris |
North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) |
2 vis ops staff |
2 |
|
Highland Council |
Lochaber, Skye, Wester Ross, Sutherland & Easter Ross, Inverness & Loch Ness |
North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) |
14 rangers |
14 |
|
Islay Development Initiative |
12 key sites on Islay |
North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) |
1 ranger |
1 |
|
John Muir Trust |
Ben Nevis, Sandwood Bay and Skye properties |
North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) |
3 rangers |
3 |
|
National Trust for Scotland |
Corrieshalloch Gorge |
North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) |
1 ranger |
1 |
|
National Trust for Scotland |
Glencoe & Glen Etive |
North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) |
1 ranger |
1 |
|
National Trust for Scotland |
Torridon |
North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) |
1 ranger |
1 |
|
Nevis Partnership |
Glen Nevis and wider Nevis Management Area |
North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) |
2 rangers |
2 |
|
RSPB Scotland |
Isle of Mousa, Shetland |
North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) |
1 ranger |
0.8 |
|
SIMEC Lochaber Hydropower 2 Ltd - Jahama Highland Estates |
Mamore, Killiechonate and/or Glenshero |
North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) and part CNP area |
2 rangers |
2 |
|
The Arran Access Trust |
Isle of Arran |
North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) |
2 rangers |
1.7 |
|
The Mull & Iona Community Trust |
Isles of Mull and Iona |
North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) |
1 ranger |
1 |
|
Voluntary Action Barra & Vatersay |
Isle of Barra |
North and West Highlands and islands (including NC500) |
1 ranger |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
62 |
60.2 |
||
NatureScot is Scotland's nature agency. We work to enhance our natural environment in Scotland and inspire everyone to care more about it. Our priority is a nature-rich future for Scotland and an effective response to the climate emergency. For more information, visit our website at www.nature.scot or follow us on X at https://x.com/NatureScot
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