Hardwick Hall (The National Trust) Buxton Langsett PEAK DISTRICT Buxton Junior Rangers have been trying NATIONAL PARK, Our Langsett group has been going their hand at a wealth of practical tasks EASTERN MOORS and improving the habitat at Grin Low nearly a year now and it is nice to PARTNERSHIP, THE Woods in 2019. From rebuilding have a group up in the north-east of Young Rangers the Park. NATIONAL TRUST & tumbled-down drystone walls in June to controlling Rosebay Willowherb in DERBYSHIRE The young rangers at Hardwick Hall The initial session was affected a have had another eventful year. In September through to chopping down WILDLIFE TRUST VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3 FEBRUARY 2020 diseased ash trees in October and little by a spring storm but the June they helped out with the Bio- Blitz where they discovered, December it really has been a year of youngsters were not deterred. They HIGHLIGHTS: identified and recorded as many action for Buxton Junior Rangers. have since been searching for Who are we? plant and animal species as Amongst all the grafting we also mammals, made bird boxes, Over 45 young possible in 24 hours. They had the managed to fit in some wildflower improved their navigational skills people and 12 staff We are groups of young people Groups meet once a month for 3- We also take time to relax and take in added excitement of staying visited the PDNP 4 hours and we have a residential surveys in the wonderful glades, also and undertaken habitat aged 11-18 who volunteer once a the surroundings: overnight with Young Rangers from from 4 other month, to learn about and protect once a year. There are also seeking and identifying spiders. National Parks for management. the areas that we work in. opportunities to get together with other groups. the first national our European and UK The Young Rangers are based on Young Ranger In addition to their usual activities counterparts each year. camp. Held at the EUROPARC model. The they also had a day’s navigation The Langsett Junior Ranger group Hagg Farm, one of groups provide a connection training where they got clartered in started last year with an exploration of our Ambassador between the protected landscape/ the area and then sheltering from the mud as they explored the Centres. areas and local young people. countryside surrounding Hardwick storm where they made good use of Young Rangers learn the necessary the time building bird boxes. 2 Young Rangers Hall. skills to work alongside rangers to and 1 member of The Marsh Farm enjoying the Spring staff visited Estonia complete their day-to-day tasks. weather, getting creative with some These tasks change with the landscape art. https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/learning-about/junior-rangers for EUROCAMP seasons and include activities such We rely on volunteers to help out https://www.visit-eastern-moors.org.uk/plan-your-visit/youth-rangers/ Derbyshire as habitat management, scientific with all of the groups. If you are https://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/junior-rangers Wildlife Trust have surveys, rights of way interested in volunteering with one of started a new management, hill craft and working the groups, and you have experience in group at with the public. conservation or working with young Carsington Bike riding around the Derwent people, please see the back page on Reservoirs as part of the UK camp There are 9 groups that work how to contact us. INSIDE THIS together. We are really pleased to Our staff and volunteers love supporting ISSUE: have grown from 5 groups just and inspiring the youngsters (Edale group): over a year ago. Numbers in each group continue to increase and Edale 2 some are now full. If you would like to join a group see the map on Eastern Moors 2 the back page for locations and contact details. Special Events 2 Marsh Farm 3 2019 was the year of Green Action where people were encouraged to Millers Dale 3 Connect, Protect and Enhance. This is a theme that has always been at the Longdendale 3 heart of what our young rangers do. Hardwick Hall, 4 Buxton & The last 12 months have been like to let us know about issues Langsett really exciting as our 3 new relevant to you, or to tell us about Where to get 4 groups - Langsett, Edale and positive action you have taken to involved Buxton continue to grow and go help look after the environment from strength to strength. (see the back page). Final Thoughts 4 We hope this newsletter Final thoughts from our young rangers inspires other young people living in and around our ‘As Junior Rangers we could act as ambassadors for the natural environment, helping others within but also outside our protected areas to think about, National Parks to realise the importance of National Parks as a major role in our own wellbeing and in climate change.’ and act upon relevant issues. Please get in touch if you would ‘We could create a Junior Ranger Award.’ ‘Next I would like to go to other National Parks to learn more about them.’ P A G E 2 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 3 P A G E 3 Edale September’s session Canary Shouldered Thorn In July, Edale Moorland Junior took place under cover moth. Marsh Farm (PDNP) Rangers were taking out their of dark and parents Oh, and we all had hot surveying them for the Willow Tit see what a typical Junior Ranger What a great day for stresses on the bracken on the (yes parents!), and chocolate and project, maintaining our wildlife group does who offered to help slopes of Kinder Scout in a siblings were invited Sphagnum planting marshmallows! garden, making natural us find funding for resources to practise known as Bracken along. Christmas decorations and most help our passion for the natural Bashing to help the National Surveying the Limestone recently going on a wildlife walk world. We had a great surprise We explored the Trust Rangers manage the Way on the Warslow Moors estate. when checking nest boxes in our nocturnal side of newly planted trees in that wildlife garden to find two wildlife in Edale Close to Marsh Farm is a bird area. Leaf Art occupied Field Mouse nests. wandering around hide overlooking Tittesworth We are a small but active group reservoir were we have seen a Our Junior Rangers are very We braved the elements in with bat detectors meeting once a month at Marsh variety of water birds including creative so we always make time and luring in local August to support Sue Smith Farm near Tittesworth rare Great White Egrets, heard for some art activities and try to (access officer) evaluate and moths with our Reservoir. With usually six of us but not yet seen the resident learn new skills each time we improve part of the Limestone moth trap. Top we have enjoyed activities such Kingfisher and spotted a Fox meet. We are pleased to have Way including putting up new moth was the as surveying hay meadows, trotting over the bankside field. recruited new members recently signage for path users. pulling up invasive Himalayan and have a busy schedule of In November we welcomed the Balsam plants, drystone walling, activities for 2020. Balsam pulling constructing nest boxes and National Park Chair who came to Eastern Moors Partnership, (NT & RSPB) Millers Dale (PDNP & Derbyshire Wildlife Trust) The second half of 2019 was an BE KINDER trail leading stunningly beautiful day at exciting time for the Youth from Edale up Jacob’s Snake Top planting sphagnum Millers Dale Junior Rangers have had wreaths in a busy 2019 year. The year ahead promises a whole Rangers on the Eastern Moors. Ladder, where we plugs with youth rangers from a year of changes as their local Millers Dale enjoys a great mix of host of activities from farm visits, With the group just having completed a round walk all across the Peak District as Ranger, Lynn, past the baton over to ages and experience levels, with to charcoal-making with turned 5 years old, we back down Crowden part of the MoorLife project. Rob, along with some big boots to some new faces alongside rangers professional archaeologists, to welcomed three new members Clough with the youth fill! who have bene coming for 5 years ‘kick-sampling’ with the Wye Here’s to an equally busy 2020! or more! Valley River Keepers…but into our gang as well as a new ranger’s families in tow. The spring and summer was spent hopefully we can still make time volunteer leader, Adam. July For an autumnal enjoying the fabulous flora and The 2020 programme is now up to visit Millers Dale café for a hot saw us carrying out meadow September task, we fauna, searching for the elusive and running, and we kicked things chocolate once in a while! management tasks including collected acorns in Curbar Water Voles, identifying wild flowers off with a great visit to Buxton Taking MICCI ragwort pulling and species Woods which have since and checking the local water quality Mountain Rescue base in January. measurements surveying in the rare upland hay been planted in the newly by looking at which species live in it. Did you know that the first ‘Happy Sphagnum planters’ meadow habitat at Curbar Gap. established tree nursery at (The quality is very good). mountain rescuers in the Peak After the traditional summer the Eastern Moors HQ at District were Scouts and Rangers? Some thoughts They have been roaming around Louise Baddeley break in August, we met again Barbrook Cottage.