Countryside Rangers
The Ranger Team consists of one Senior Ranger and two part time Rangers.
The team manages a variety of sites from urban green space to rural countryside.
The
main sites are: Dartford Heath, a unique environment with a large varied
area of heathland, woods & open spaces (@ 130 hectares - 300as )
Darenth Country Park, A millenium project by DBC/Groundwork/NHS Trust.
Brooklands Lakes and other smaller sites.
The Team, under the supervision of the Landscape Manager, implements management plans, maintains sites, manages visitors, carries out practical conservation tasks, works with volunteers, organizes events & guided walks for the general public together with many other duties.
In partnership with DBC enforcement Section Rangers carry out patrolling to minimise anti social behaviour, the most time consuming being the illegal off road use of motorcycles & quad bikes on the Heath and the misuse of parts of the Heath.
The Countryside Parks Officer, who has a wealth of knowledge on green matters keeps many resources working towards a common purpose. This includes organising volunteer and Community Service Groups.
He
recently led a large group of members of the public on the inaugural
tour of the new Green Route on Dartford Heath giving us all much fascinating
information on the way.
One of the part time Rangers is a whiz with technical & practical matters and keeps tools & machinery up and running.
He is also involved with supervising the volunteer & Community Service personnel among his many duties.The other one,with Police experience work most weekends patrolling the sites.
There is also a programme of guided walks aiming for one a month.
If you would like to become involved with voluntary groups or report illegal off-road motorcycles and quad bikes, please contact 01322 285497.
Together our aim is to widen the use made of our green spaces which are an essential asset in this area in the middle of the massive Thames Gateway Region and to provide a high quality service with limited resources.
