http://www.scra-online.co.uk.php5-7.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/index.php en niall@scra-online.co.uk Copyright 2010 2010-05-18T09:21:40+00:00 http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/scra_annual_training_event_in_partnership_with_snh_and_agm_-_new_dates_conf/ http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/scra_annual_training_event_in_partnership_with_snh_and_agm_-_new_dates_conf/#When:09:21:40Z We unfortunately had to postpone the SCRA Annual Training Event and AGM earlier in the year. However, we are delighted to confirm the new dates for the event! The Annual Training Event and AGM will take place on THURSDAY 22nd JULY 2010 at the Battleby Conference Centre at Scottish Natural Heritage near Perth. SCRA would like to extend their thanks to SNH for not only hosting the event, but also for helping to arrange and organise the event and speakers. The event is FREE to attend for SCRA members, and £30 for non-members and focuses on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and managing access on the ground and in the flesh! The Scottish Outdoor Access Code and Land Reform Legislation has been in place now for several years. Over that time additional guidance and clarification has been offered on the practicalities of the Code and how land managers, Rangers and users can best use the Code to help manage and take access responsibly. As well as this, countryside practitioners have developed an wealth of experience and best practice in promoting and managing these responsibilities. During the day, we will investigate some of these best practice examples, undertake practical case studies in how we can better manage access situations as well as examine some of the aspects of access and associated problems that are not included within the Code. Learning Outcomes: • Gain greater awareness of access issues • Case studies: mountain biking, horse riding, dogs, camping and disabled access • Share best practice in the resolution of access issues on the ground • Develop, maintain and enhance understanding of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code • Hear how promoting the Code fits into SNH’s wider policy and communication activities  • Participate in practical example of managing access issues The event will also host the SCRA AGM during lunch time of the course. The following forms and further information are available to help you find out more and book in the event: Annual Training Event Booking Form (please complete, save, and then return as an attachment to Niall Lobley) Annual Training Event provisional programme AGM Notification Letter (will be sent to members over the next two weeks) Membership Renewal Letter 'Desperately Seeking'  - a plea for help by SCRA! Current News 2010-05-18T09:21:40+00:00 http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/scra_respond_to_camping_byelaw_consultation_on_loch_lomond/ http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/scra_respond_to_camping_byelaw_consultation_on_loch_lomond/#When:18:03:01Z These views have been discussed by SCRA Council and are representative of that Councils opinions and views as the elected officials of SCRA, but not necessarily those shared by all members of the association.   SCRA appreciate the difficult and challenging issues and pressures that are faced by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority in terms of managing visitor pressure in Loch Lomond, particularly the problems and challenges presented by 'wild' camping around the east side of the Loch where there is significant visitor pressure.   However, whilst SCRA support some of the tools proposed to tackle these issues, we are not fully supportive of the implementation of byelaws as we do not feel that the arguments presented in the consultation paper justify this measure; we feel that some of the issues discussed in the proposal are not addressed by byelaw implementation.   We have a number of minor points which essentially relate to the 'message' that the Authority would be communicating perhaps not to the user, but to the wider community of land management bodies through implementation of byelaws;   1) LLTNP has the largest Ranger Service in Scotland and has a far higher number of staff 'on the ground' than any other organisation in Scotland. In this instance SCRAs opinion is that there are enough staff to be able to find more proactive ways of managing anti-social camping issues in terms of education and community engagement.   2) If, given point 1 above, LLTNP are resorting to byelaws as a management technique, its a worrying precedent to set to other landowners and managers; basically demonstrating that a high staff presence with an promotional, educational and management role cannot manage this issue - how can we expect a landowner with minimal, if any staff with a similar issue not to expect/want to revert to byelaws?   3) There is a fear that by making byelaws at Loch Lomond, problems will simply be moved to areas where there are simply not the resources or ability to manage them, thus expanding rather than managing the problem    4) The implementation of byelaws in this respect goes against the nature of the Land Reform act. We appreciate that the Act grants powers to use byelaws as a management technique and approach, but we feel that the implementation in this instance goes against the nature of the act.     5) Wild camping itself can be carried out legitimately and legally by a large number of people and is a valuable lesson in the outdoors for many people, fostering what can become a lifelong passion and enthusiasm. The vast majority of people will do this responsibly. Byelaws around Loch Lomond would be applicable equally to all sectors and would spoil this activity for many.     6) The antisocial behaviour is already in a large number of cases illegal, and whilst the byelaws perhaps clarify this illegality, are they really needed to manage problems that are already illegal?   However, SCRA has more substantial concerns in regard to what byelaws might mean for the profession;   7) The proposals are based on a saving of staff time, this will simply not be the case as many staff currently involved in managing anti-social camping will now need to be deployed in an enforcement role - this is a substantive argument in the consultation paper and one that we feel is unjustified - the role for staff might change, but we cannot see an argument for it easing the burden of staff, indeed, if the byelaws are to be implemented well, we can see that there would be a noticeable increase in the staff resource needed to implement and enforce the byelaws.   8) Given point 7 above, we are looking at a fundamental change in the nature of the role of the Ranger in Scotland. LLTNP have already started to increase the enforcement role of Rangers through partnership with the police and special constables; to further increase this enforcement role with Rangers deployed to enforce byelaws, we will soon see the word Ranger being synonymous with enforcement as it is in some other countries. Arguably, Scotland's Rangers enjoy a unique relationship to their advantage, having a role which is to encourage positive behaviour - a carrot without a stick. This means that we have a friendly or soft approach with the public and have come to be a profession that succeeds on this basis - having Scotland’s first National Park change its Rangers into enforcement officers would threaten this relationship not only in the National park, but also potentially wider as the National park acts as an introductory experience to Scotland’s outdoors for many people. SCRA stand apposed to this sea-change in a Rangers position; Scotland’s Rangers indicates in policy the persuasive and educational role of Rangers, not their enforcement role.   SCRA are supportive and positive welcome some aspects of the consultation:   7) We see the value in designating wild camping spots, and would support this approach as part of an educational and advisory approach to manage anti-social issues of wild camping; camping facilities in Scotland are under pressure nationally, and in popular areas such as East Lomond, we would see this as an ideal approach, alongside education to manage camping. 'Managed' wild camping sites will help to tackle many of the illegal and antisocial issues arising from the wild camping on the loch side, by way of protecting biodiversity, limiting tree damage and providing a litter collection facility. We are concerned at the limited number of sites proposed and see this as a limiting factor.     SCRA feel strongly that there are a range of measures that could be applied to help manage this problem that are not yet shown to have been tried. We feel that byelaws stand against the nature of the Land Reform act. One of the key arguments made for the byelaw is the resource saving that can be made, but no indication is made of the potential staff demand likely to manage the byelaws themselves. The use of a Ranger Service is educational and advisory and welcoming; this should be sufficient to manage the issue; resorting to byelaws is almost a sign that this does not work, which sets a dangerous precedent for other land managers. Finally, the management of byelaws by Rangers changes the nature of the Ranger role and may well have wider ramifications and implications for the profession.   I stress that the Association is sympathetic to the issues and challenges faced, but we have real concerns about the proposal to implement byelaws at this point as a management measure; we would rather see a range of measures, such as designated wild camping areas, high profile education and campaign work, interpretative signage and guidance offered, prior to byelaw implementation. We would welcome an approach that left byelaws as a 'last resort' perhaps after trialling a combination of these other measure, most notably the managed wild camping areas, over perhaps a three year period, leaving the byelaw as the last resort.   Once again, my apologies for the tardy response and I hope it can be considered.   Many thanks, Niall   For and on behalf of, the Scottish Countryside Rangers' Association Current News 2010-05-12T18:03:01+00:00 http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/scottish_auto_cycle_union_annual_conference_-_the_solution_is_here_in_scotl/ http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/scottish_auto_cycle_union_annual_conference_-_the_solution_is_here_in_scotl/#When:17:22:55Z Bob Reid, a former Council Officer with SCRA has had a long standing involvement with the proactive and positive management of the issues surrounding motorbike and quad use on countryside sites. Working in North Lanarkshire where there were significant issues associated with this use of the countryside, aside from the simply illegality of it, Bob has been a driving force for change and has worked hard to form recognised facilities. This issue is faced by many organiseations across Scotland and the Scottish Auto Cycle Union would like to invite Rangers from across Scotland to join them at their annual conference in June. Full details and a booking form. Current News 2010-05-12T17:22:55+00:00 http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/annual_training_event_and_agm_-_postponed_monday_19th_april/ http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/annual_training_event_and_agm_-_postponed_monday_19th_april/#When:10:22:33Z We have had to postpone the AGM and training event due to be held on Monday 19th April due to a lack of numbers. We will reschedule for later in the year. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. We would like to thank those of you that did book, and the organisers for arranging the event. Archived News 2010-04-18T10:22:33+00:00 http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/foundation_ranger_training_-_dates_announced/ http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/foundation_ranger_training_-_dates_announced/#When:11:00:03Z The 2010 Foundation Ranger Training will take place between Sunday 3rd October and Friday 8th October. Further details will be announced soon. 2010-03-12T11:00:03+00:00 http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/second_news_article/ http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/second_news_article/#When:20:07:51Z The new SCRA website has been developed with a Content Management System (CMS). This means that its really very easy to update! Anyone with access to a computer can update and add to this website. That right - even you! So, would you like to get involved and help the association to keep its members up to date. If you have any web experience, we would love to hear from you - if you have no web experience but fancy learning - we would love to hear from you! Its your website, so why not help out? It really is very easy, get in touch with niall@scra-online.co.uk with an expression of interest. You will be assigned a password and a number of pages to manage - and what you manage is up to you - or you can create new pages to look after. Full training and support will be given. You do not need to know anything about HTML or how web pages are written - the CMS makes it as easy as writing a word document! So please, do get in touch! Archived News 2009-11-11T20:07:51+00:00 http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/first_news_article_title/ http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/first_news_article_title/#When:20:06:19Z After several months of hard work behind the scenes, we have a brand new website! The site has been developed in partnership with a number of partners involved in the Ranger Development Partnership, Scottish Natural Heritage and the team at Viper Marketting. The new website is a major leap forward for SCRA and acts as the launch platform for the new Continuing Professional Development programme that we have been developing over the past two years. Please take time to have a look around the site and see whats new! There are a few bits and bobs that are still being developed - a number of the links are not yet in place, these should be developed by the New Year. We would also welcome your comments! Please contact niall@scra-online.co.uk. A few new things to check out: An exclusive members only section; you will need to register and be approved to access this area and only SCRA members will be approved. There is a members forum in the members area which we hope will serve our members as a way of sharing ideas, thoughts and best practice - so please use it! Content in this area is still being developed - so give us your ideas! The Continuing Professional Development programme is a huge leap forward for Rangering in Scotland - more news on how this will help you coming soon! We wil have online membership available soon, ready for the 2010 year. Archived News 2009-11-11T20:06:19+00:00 http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/here_is_the_first_event/ http://www.scra-online.co.uk/index.php/news/here_is_the_first_event/#When:19:56:46Z Its back! The Ranger Rendezvous will be taking place in 2010! This time, Cairngorms National Park will be playing host at the Glenmore Lodge Centre. The event will run from the afternoon of Sunday 14th November through to the afternoon of Tuesday 16th November. Prices are yet to be confirmed - but keep your eyes on the website to find out more! 2009-11-11T19:56:46+00:00