Wanted: army of moors rangers (From Gazette & Herald)

Wanted: army of moors rangers

ONE of North Yorkshire's largest visitor attractions is on the hunt for an army of volunteers to take it into the next tourist season.

Staff at the North York Moors National Park are searching for people to join their voluntary ranger section, and help look after the 554 square miles of beautiful countryside.

At present, almost 150 volunteers help full-time staff care for the unique environment.

But there are hopes that more than 200 voluntary rangers will be trained and ready to go when the 2003 visitor season kicks off.

Judie Holliday, from the national park, said: "We are looking for any sort of people - I can't say we have a typical voluntary ranger.

"We have people from doctors through to secretaries, a few retired bank managers and computer help desk operators.

"It's just anybody who loves the countryside, although we don't have a lot of people who actually live in the park helping, most are from further afield."

Mrs Holliday said there was a wide variety of tasks volunteers could take part in, ranging from path restoration and conservation tasks to conducting visitor surveys on what people would like to see happen in the North York Moors.

"Once we get to know people we get to know what they like to do," she said.

"There are some people who are more than happy to do a patrol and do nothing but pick up litter, and others who lead guided walks or work in the mobile display unit."

Voluntary rangers, who mainly worked at weekends and over bank holidays, decided to help for different reasons, she said.

"We have students who are doing it in addition to their courses so that when they do apply for jobs they also have some practical experience, and there are people who have been retired a while and are into their 70s."

Eric Lee, who has been a voluntary ranger in the national park for ten years, said: "It's wonderful to be able to work in this beautiful area and feel you're putting something back into the national park.

"If you love the North York Moors and want to help look after them in a practical way then

this is the ideal opportunity."

Mrs Holliday added: "We just could not have the cover on the ground if they were not there - they are our eyes and ears."

Anyone interested in becoming a voluntary ranger should contact her at the national park office in Helmsley on 01439 770657.

Updated: 09:04 Friday, October 25, 2002