Liveability - Coast and Countryside Rangers

This project employs two specialist staff to patrol and carry out countryside management and maintenance duties across the project area focussing on those areas not currently serviced and anti-social hotspots identified on the network. 

The operational management of the Rangers is through the District of Easington's Street Warden scheme whilst the Durham Heritage Coast management team will carry out the overall project management.

For further details please contact Fiona Scully, Project Manager, Heritage Coast Staff Unit on 0191 3834640

About this service

Volunteers

The project is progressing well; waste disposal money has been extremely effective in dealing with large quantities of fly-tipping and rubbish removal along the cycleways and at Seaham and Crimdon respectively.  There are 53 volunteers attached to the project.

Ranger events and training has included:

• Shotton cycleway clean up
• pond and gorse clearance
• litter picks
• Youth impact group raised bed project
• coastline geology training
• marine life
• surveying, patrolling and map reading training
• green woodworking day
• bird and bat box building.    

A fortnightly programme of guided walks following the circular route leaflets produced by District of Easington is in place.  The Rangers are carrying out a survey of each of the walks and developing appropriate maintenance and improvement plans.  The Sunderland Echo recently had articles promoting the walks 'Putting your best foot forward' and 'Bikers face big fines' that targeted off road biker's.  The two ILM placements have completed their courses and are now highly trained in countryside skills including chainsaw, first aid, and pesticides.  They are just completing NVQ courses with Houghall College.  Practical works will commence over the next 3 months for cycleway access improvements, habitat conservation at Crimdon and Denemouth.