National strategic framework for Countryside Ranger Services in Scotland

What it asks

What the petitioner did first

1. 1 Feb 2018
   Public Petitions Committee

   New Petitions
   1 mention
2. 26 Apr 2018
   Public Petitions Committee

   Continued Petitions
   1 mention
3. 25 Oct 2018
   Public Petitions Committee

   Continued Petitions
   1 mention
4. 4 Apr 2019
   Public Petitions Committee

   Continued Petitions
   1 mention
5. 26 Sep 2019
   Public Petitions Committee

   Continued Petitions
   1 mention
6. 5 Mar 2020
   Public Petitions Committee

   Continued Petitions
   1 mention

1. Scotland558 65.6%
2. United Kingdom206 24.2%
3. England71 8.4%
4. Wales6 0.7%
5. Canada2 0.2%
6. Ireland2 0.2%
7. Antigua and Barbuda1 0.1%
8. Denmark1 0.1%
9. Uruguay1 0.1%
10. United States1 0.1%
11. 1 other countries1 0.1%

1. George Potts 7 Nov 2017
   Ranger Services across Scotland are a national asset and as such are worthy of a national strategic approach. Please take this opportunity to learn more about the many and varied roles Countryside Rangers have in connecting people with their local natural environment and promoting Scotland's many scenic areas.
2. Beverley Clarke 8 Nov 2017
   Since the removal of ring fenced funding from SNH for Ranger Services in Scotland, there has been a slow erosion and removal of Rangers through cutbacks and lack of support. Ranger Services have become the easy target for budget savings as their value to an authority, service or organisation is not fully appreciated or been replaced by volunteers. Additionally the professional role of a Ranger in Scotland has suffered a de-valuing due to budget cuts, changes in job descriptions and lack of training opportunities being offered to Ranger staff. Scotland has a history of being World pioneers for conservation work and Ranger Services through founding SCRA and IRF and it would be so sad to lose all we have achieved.
3. Alison Abercrombie 8 Nov 2017
   I support the need for implementing this framework. I have been a ranger for the last 10 years in Dundee and have seen and experienced first hand the cuts to Ranger Services. Dundee City council have gone from 6 full time posts plus 2 seasonal posts along with support from colleagues in the urban ranger service to 3 full time posts. We can no longer deliver the same service. We have adjusted what we do time and again to try and mitigate the effects but are now at breaking point. We are on the brink of becoming ineffective in what we do through no fault of our own. Rangers are a knowledgeable and pationate bunch and their loss will be sorely felt in the years to come.
4. Lorne 8 Nov 2017
   I'm not sure that enough people appreciate and understand importance of the work of our Countryside Rangers
   - we should be investing in the natural environment and those that look after it.
5. Alison Abercrombie 8 Nov 2017
   I support the need to implement this framework. I have been a Ranger for the last 10 years with Dundee city council. Our team has been reduced from 6 full time staff, 2 seasonal staff and support from a fantastic urban ranger service to 3 full time posts. We have tried to adjust what we do over and over again to try and compensate but we are now at breaking point. We are at the stage of becoming ineffective through no fault of our own. Rangers are passionate and knowledgeable people whose loss will be greatly felt in Scotland in years to come.
6. Roger Powell 8 Nov 2017
   From being a Nationally defined Ranger Service, underpinned by the duties as defined by the CCS and then SNH, a system envied by other services around the world, we have gone to a fragmented system, with many Rangers having essential duties removed from them and, as a result, a deterioration in much of our important Countryside areas.
7. Heather 8 Nov 2017
   This needs supported for public health reasons.
8. Callum 8 Nov 2017
   It is known that, annually, £1.4 million NHS money could be saved on prescribed drugs for temporary mental health issues (e.g. stress, anxiety, some depressions) if people were prescribed a walk or other activity in the countryside or local country park
   - the few remaining rangers could provide this service to help folk out, to seek the healthy revitilisation. But more, not fewer, rangers are needed. The cost versus the national savings on health services is minor.
9. Allison Greig 8 Nov 2017
   As a Senior Countryside Ranger, my team of Rangers in Glasgow has gone from 14 full time equivalent posts in 2009 to 8 FTE posts in 2017, this has been through 'natural wastage' ie. no backfilling of vacant posts as result of cost savings by our employer. We have not had seasonal ranger since 2009 and thendof the grant aid provided by SNH. This ring fenced core funding was essential to keep this money flowing to ranger services when this was removed so was the security of ranger posts in local authorities. there is direct correlation.
10. Niall Lobley 9 Nov 2017
    As a former Ranger and Chair of SCRA I cannot place enough support behind this petition. I now work in Canada, and through working in Canada and being aware through the International Ranger Community of the work that Rangers do in Scotland, I can with experience to support this, firmly state that the way in which Ranger Services evolved in Scotland, and were until 2008 was a globally recognised model of best practice in engaging communities in greenspaces. There is no other system as good, in terms of delivery and in respect to public value for money that Rangers were when financially supported by SNH. Recognising that this system is no more, every effort should be made by policy makers to ensure that the replacement system should evolve to be as strong
    - or stronger than the mechanisms in place to support this vital public service before 2008. The past decade has demonstrated that the practice now being adopted is not only weaker, but is progressively undoing half a century of being a global leader and eroding the superior system Scotland enjoyed and its place as a leader in greenspace delivery and management through its Rangers. Please act on this petition. Listen to the public note the passionate way that members of the public responded to proposed and now implemented changes to Highland Ranger Service. Look at the numbers
    - see how much was delivered for so little investment
    - nearly 300 staff were supported across Scotland for less than 2 million GBP a year from SNH. Look at the losses since 2008. Look to SCRA to help inform how the next generation of Rangers can be supported, while we still have the ability to learn from those Rangers, now nearing the end of their careers that have given so much. Listen now to the passion of young Rangers entering a profession that is lead by their dedication as to how to mould a new method of supporting local delivery with national coordination fit for the next 50 years
    - repair the losses of the past decade.
11. Tracy Lambert 9 Nov 2017
    Please support our Countryside Rangers, they are vital for so many services that include health and wellbeing, maintaining relationships with schools to encourage children to use outdoor space and looking after vital environmental greenspace as well as the wildlife in them.
12. Jo King 9 Nov 2017
    For 7 years now i have struggled to gain full time employment with any ranger service. I have even gone back to university to study countryside management. But i know when i graduate that there's no guarantee that i can gain a job. Budget cuts have hit the ranger services hard. Support is needed!
13. Michelle M 9 Nov 2017
    I completely support this proposal. Rangers are essential for the natural and cultural heritage and health of our country and without them the country would be a poorer place. They work with people of all ages, abilities and ethnicities, getting people into the Countryside, providing environmental and cultural education and helping to protect Scotland for future generations
14. John Lang Wilson 9 Nov 2017
    Countryside Rangers provide a vital function in educaton and conservation
15. Katrina Robinson 9 Nov 2017
    Vital job taking care of the countryside and much more!
16. Gavin Finbow 10 Nov 2017
    I support the framework as I firmly believe that Ranger Services provide important and key policies of the Scottish Government including health and well-being (physical and mental), social inclusion working with deprived communities, enhancing the natural and cultural environment for future generations, and economic development through land management. Ranger Services provide a wealth of knowledge and information to the communities of Scotland equipping folk with the tools to enjoy and understand the environment, sowing the seeds of the future, Scotlands Future.
17. Nigel Franklin 10 Nov 2017
    Carry on doing the great work.
18. Glen 10 Nov 2017
    It's a vital part of the network and should be supported
19. Kim 13 Nov 2017
    We truly need to ensure that we balance our natural habitat , for now and also future generations. maybe more volunteers ?
20. Richard 15 Nov 2017
    For a country that prides itself of the wild and rural areas it seems only fitting to demonstrate this commitment to protecting it.
21. Rennie 15 Nov 2017
    Countryside rangers are the cornerstone of accessible outdoor learning...they protect species and habitats, they work with people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds and are vital in protecting wildlife and public access
    - they act as teachers, conservationists, land managers, development officers, machine operators and so much more but get little recognition or reward and it's high time this changed and the profession was recognised and supported on a par with professions such as teaching.
22. Mhairi Donnelly 15 Nov 2017
    The State of Nature 2016 Scotland report states that Scotland has a chance of reversing biodiversity loss but is this so without the Ranger Service. We are a country who pride ourselves on the value of our natural environment and our economy depends on it for tourism. Without the people to manage, conserve and interpret the natural environment it looses its value and worth.
23. Claire 15 Nov 2017
    Countryside rangers do an amazing job of creating and improving habitats for nature, then encouraging people to learn about and enjoy the natural areas around them.
24. Anna Brand 16 Nov 2017
    The people who help to maintain our places of beauty where we can get close to nature are absolutely essential. They do exhausting and essential work in all weathers to ensure we can spend sunny weekends or days off enjoying these places.
25. Ewen Cameron 16 Nov 2017
    Countryside Rangers do so much. They help farmers by explaining why dogs should be kept under control, help everyone by explaining how the countryside works and explaining how we all depend on nature, they help the economy by providing and maintaining visitor facilities for local people and tourists, they help the environment by managing and protecting wild places they improve health by holding events to get us active in the outdoors, they providing volunteering opportunities so we get the chance to help improve our countryside, they support our children in schools and elsewhere with educational support and projects. They are not a luxury. In cities and the countryside they are a mainstay of Scotland's modern society and a vital part of our wellbeing. And no I'm not a ranger, just someone who appreciates them for the national treasure they are.
26. Jacqui Fleming 16 Nov 2017
    The rangers provide a grass roots service which is overlooked and the importance of which underrated (by some). They are vital in enhancing participation and increasing knowledge of our environment and preserving our green spaces. This should not be another service that is cut to save costs.
27. Dougie Stewart 17 Nov 2017
    As the owner of a business which organises walking holidays in Scotland, I've been depressed at the gradual rundown of the Rangers Service in several local authorities. Dumfries and Galloway is particularly bad. My company has had many complaints about poor signage and maintenance on the western end of the Southern Upland Way, leading to two European agents taking the route off their programmes. As every walker spends about £1k for a 7 day visit, the loss to the local economy far outweighs any apparent savings in cutting Ranger services.
28. Simon 17 Nov 2017
    Vital service for the conservation of our countryside and in the education of all be it young or old.
29. Andrew Grant 17 Nov 2017
    Vital service in an environment threatened by climate change
30. TOMMY MCMANMON 17 Nov 2017
    Ranger Services tick all the boxes for a healthy, educated Scottish population. Why would the government let things slip like this?!
31. John Walder 17 Nov 2017
    Wildlife in Scotland needs all the help it can get, including direct monitoring as provided by the CRS
32. Lynnette Borradaile 18 Nov 2017
    Retaining, enhancing and sustaining our natural heritage is essential to the health and well being of al this country's citizens, Rangers play a key role and are essential educators in helping people enjoy and understand the natural world
    - an entitlement every pupil in Scotland now has and every teacher is responsible in delivering, and few have the relevant skills that Rangers could share with them.
33. Donald Thomas 19 Nov 2017
    A uniform service across the country will enable equality of access to the whole Scottish population. Some people need support and encouragement to take much needed exercise in the outdoors. Ranger services can also coordinate volunteer contributions to estate management.
34. Jackie 19 Nov 2017
    Our environment requires protecting, conserving and enhancing. The ranger network represents the boots on the ground in this challenge and requires financial & material support. Squeeze the network dry now and it would take years (decades ?)to re-establish.
35. Sheena 20 Nov 2017
    Delivering a strategic framework would look at the needs for the whole of Scotland and address the inequalities there now exists in provision of Scotland's Ranger services.
36. Lisa Ford 20 Nov 2017
    Rangers are desperately needed in a world that is increasingly detaching itself from the natural world. Rangers are an important link to help people take ownership and care about the world around them.
37. Katy 20 Nov 2017
    The Highland Council Rangers do some incredible work with kids. This is a vital service to ensure our young people continue to treasure our natural heritage.
38. Gabriele Rice-Grunert 20 Nov 2017
    Ranger Services do much of the ground work in habitat management and in interacting with children and visitors in our parks and protected spaces. They are the linkage between people and nature providing interpretation of complex processes and functions happening in the outdoors and benefitting all of us. They are a vital part of delivering biodiversity duties that rest with local authorities. Instead of losing more and more of these services, we need to strengthen and support them as this framework proposes.
39. Susan Davies 20 Nov 2017
    The Scottish Wildlife Trust employs a number of full time and seasonal rangers to undertake both practical management work, ecological monitoring and to support awareness raising and educational work. Ranger roles make an important contribution to delivery of national outcomes and priority steps in the Biodiversity RouteMap especially around creating healthy local environments and connecting individuals, schools and communities with these. The Scottish Wildlife Trust supports efforts by SCRA to , creative solutions to the problems of reduced resources, and fresh commitment to delivering the framework for countryside range services in Scotland.
40. John K Campbell 20 Nov 2017
    The Country is heading in the right direction with its countryside pursuits. This is not the right time to cut back on staffing. You should be adding staff and bring in more visitors not turn them away or wait to the last minute and find more staff on demand. A good Boy Scout motto BE PREPARED.
41. Dr Elspeth Stirling 21 Nov 2017
    Countryside Rangers Services carry out a crucial role in protecting our precious natural environemnt and in the education of of our communities, including young people who will be the stewards of the future. They have irreplaceable knowledge of our wildlife and wild landscapes, and are ideally placed to connect people with their wild natural heritage. I belong to and help run a number of voluntary wildlife orgainsations in Scotland
    - and wholly support the proposal that CRS's should have adequete resourcing to enable them to function and develop fully. The loss of experienced staff has left notable gaps in Scotland's conservation endeavours.
42. Colin Inverarity 22 Nov 2017
    The Ranger Services throughout Scotland provide a valuable service in educating our children about their local environment, managing and protecting areas of our countryside as well as monitoring the wildlife present. Continuing with these cuts year on year risks irreversible harm to threatened species and our environment and will have serious impacts on what sort of country we pass on to future generations if we don't start doing something about it now.
43. Derek Jackson 22 Nov 2017
    Looking after and caring for the countryside makes a huge benefit for the health of our environment, habitats and creatures and in no small way the people who visit. It needs to be managed and cared for and the rangers service is a cost effective way of achieving this
44. Eddie Palmer 23 Nov 2017
    I fully support this petition, as the very good reasons for not further diminishing the ranger service in Scotland have been very ably set out. The Ranger service everywhere in Scotland is essential for being a crucial 'eyes and easrs in the countryside. I am involved in volunteer work to try and combat wildlife crime, and rangers are essential in the partnership in this fight. The reductions in staff have been disgraceful and dangerous
45. Ceri Wells 23 Nov 2017
    Rangers perform a valuable service which is often underappreciated. They have a genuine love and concern for the wildlife and the wild areas that we tend to take for granted and work very hard to maintain and promote its upkeep, public interest and diversity. They are are essential part of our country and coastal areas.
46. Kate Odling 24 Nov 2017
    The Rangers Service contains experts in many areas including biodiversity, flora, fauna, land management, public involvement and understanding. They oversee volunteer groups, undertake National flora and fauna surveys, contribute to our knowledge of the British countryside and educate local residents from Primary School age to mature adults through talks, guided walks and workshops. This enormous range of tasks is possible because of the dedication of the Rangers and their team-working strategies so that expertise is shared. To maintain the countryside in a healthy condition for the future a detailed knowledge of the area is crucial for effective management.
    The Rangers are a cost effective way to achieve a natural environment that is diverse, sustainable, healthy and accessible for the recreation and enjoyment of the public. Cuts would lead to the exponential degradation of the natural environment that would have degenerative repercussions over the years
47. Gordon Miller 24 Nov 2017
    The Scottish model is used as an example of good practice in ranger services in Europe and further afield. As our environment experiences more and more threats rangers are at the front line in environmental education and monitoring change in our countryside, if protected areas are to mean anything then we need to strengthen their protection not diminish it. Scotland can be a beacon of good practice in how we react to any negative changes
    International Ranger Federation
48. Fran Burgess 24 Nov 2017
    The Rangers Service provides such a valuable service to the environment and the community. In E Lothian they coordinate an especially active volunteer initiative which allows the community to participate and learn about conservation, and make a valuable contribution.
49. Alan Preece 25 Nov 2017
    This profession provides so many cross cutting social, economic and environmental benefits at an excellent value to the public purse. Reductions in their number has always led to the rise of both short and long term impacts that are expensive or impossible to rectify. Please implement this strategy.
50. Margaret Allan 25 Nov 2017
    East Lothian has a great team of Rangers who do a fantastic job. I volunteer for Path Maintenance working alongside some of the Rangers in country and coastal areas. It is essential that we keep the Countryside Ranger Services in Scotland.