Countryside Ranger Service

West Lothian Council's Ranger Service has bases at Almondell & Calderwood Country Park, Beecraigs Country Park and Polkemmet Country Park.

Contact details for the Ranger Service are:-

Almondell & Calderwood Ranger base, Kirsty Morrison - Tel: 01506 882254  E-mail: almondell&calderwood@westlothian.gov.uk

Beecraigs Ranger base, Tracey Smith - Tel: 01506 844516  E-mail: mail@beecraigs.com

Polkemmet Ranger base, Hugh Ilgunas - Tel: 01501 743905  E-mail: polkemmet@westlothian.gov.uk

They are responsible for:

The Service will help you to both enjoy your visit and understand the needs of the countryside.

 

Tasks performed by the Ranger team are varied.   Encouraging and assisting visitors to West Lothian's countryside, monitoring and maintaining access routes for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, providing interpretative facilities, leading public events, talks and children's activities, working with volunteers, regular patrols of some 730 hectares of countryside, and co-ordinating conservation works are just some of their many duties.  Together with the rest of the Countryside Section staff, they provide invaluable skills, expertise and experience in the management of West Lothian's countryside.

The Ranger Service offers environmental education to primary and secondary schools, nurseries and colleges.  A broad range of natural history and environmental study is covered and is seen as complementary to the work of the teacher.  If you are interested in this aspect of their Service, it is advised that bookings are made well in advance due to demand.  There are charges for some groups and activities.

Aged between 8 and 12 years, interested in nature and wildlife, and enjoy having fun out of doors?  Then you may want to join the "Look Group" at Almondell & Calderwood Country Park (contact the Rangers at the Almondell & Calderwood base) or the "Junior Rangers" based at Polkemmet Country Park.  At Beecraigs Country Park the "Ecomaniacs" meet and further information can be obtained from the Beecraigs Ranger base.

The Rangers are currently working on the Events Programme for 2012 and it should be out in time for Easter this year; contact us then to check out what you'd like to book onto.

If you would like to volunteer with the Ranger Service team and become a "Friend of ..." Almondell & Calderwood, Beecraigs (check out the Friends of Beecraigs on Facebook) or Polkemmet then do please contact the Rangers to have a chat.  It can be very rewarding to be actively involved in your local community or one of your favourite Country Parks and the Ranger Service welcome your support.

Got a question for or need some advice from the Ranger Service, then get in touch and the Rangers will do their best to help.

The outdoor activity facility is open at Beecraigs and available for hire.  The facility aims to encourage greater participation in the outdoors and use of the countryside by schools and the wider community - find out more