Call-up time for Youth Rangers

Call-up time for Youth Rangers

6 May 2015

THE Mourne Heritage Trust has launched this year’s environmental youth ranger scheme which

provides a great opportunity for young people to learn about their local natural heritage and get involved in practical tasks to protect it.

Now in its tenth year, the scheme offers teenagers aged between 14 and 16 the opportunity to learn about what it means to be a ranger in the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as well as picking up some valuable skills and experience

Dave Farnan, area ranger for the Mourne Heritage Trust, described the scheme as a “great opportunity” for young people in Mourne to get involved with the practical work the Trust undertakes to help maintain and protect the area and gain an understanding and appreciation of this special landscape.

The programme offers the youth rangers one day a week of practical environmental work through the summer and will get participants actively engaged in activities like clearing scrub to restore natural habitats, carrying out maintenance of mountain trails and 

learning about the unique Mourne environment. The scheme is free to the participants due to the generous support of the Big Lottery Fund. 

Alan Whitcroft, the volunteer co-ordinator for the Mourne Heritage Trust’s Active Lifestyles Programme, said the body is very pleased that continued support from Big Lottery for the programme allows it to run this scheme into its tenth year. 

“Thanks also to the John Muir Trust who enable us to award our youth rangers the John Muir Award for participation in this environmental activity,” he added.

Numbers that can participate in the youth ranger scheme are limited so anyone interested is urged to get an information pack from the Mourne Heritage Trust’s Annalong office at Cornmill Quay or on-line at www.mournelive.com and apply as soon as possible. The closing date is June 30.