A frequent comment Tracy Hayes, Wildlife Watch and Youth Officer at the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, was faced with in her work was that there were no opportunities for older children and youths in the two counties to get involved in natural heritage projects. Children, youths, parents, teachers and environmental educators were consulted about the best way to tackle this void. The result is ‘Teen Rangers’ – a project designed to show 13-19-year-olds what it takes to be a countryside ranger and help them to develop conservation and other skills.
Thirty young people have taken charge of project activities and are investigating two conserved-nature areas – Shenton Railway cuttings, a former railway siding, and Watermead County Park. They are finding out how wildlife habitats can be protected and trying their hand at practical nature conservation, from repairing fences and improving ponds to willow weaving. The young participants are also learning how to interpret natural heritage, survey, investigate and record it and how to guide people around the two sites.
Nature is benefiting from this project too as the conservation work carried out by the project participants will have long-term positive effects. It is also hoped that the young people will be inspired to volunteer in other conservation and natural heritage projects in the future.
But it isn’t just heritage-related skills the teenage rangers are developing. They are getting an insight into marketing work, developing technical and interpersonal skills, and they are also set to receive certificates in first aid, risk assessment and media training at the end of the project.