Ranger Events and Walks

Photograph of a group of walkers The Ranger Service compiles an annual leaflet of Events and Walks which is available from Clackmannanshire Council's libraries and CAPs as well as our main offices at Greenfield and Lime Tree House.

You can view or download the Events and Walks programme 2010 from this page.

You can also use the following links to check the events and walks by month on this page:

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
Walking Grades
Workdays

Events Diary

All Rangers' Events and Walks are detailed by month in the ClacksWeb Events Diary.

Programme of Events and Walks 2010 - all events are free
Day/Date	Event	Description of Event	Meeting Place	Time
- April -
Sat 17th	Spring Clean	Its National Spring Clean month so it's time to help out the Countryside Rangers with a litter pick on the footpath that runs through Arns Brae Pleasure Grounds. Grade 1.	Arns Brae Pleasure Grounds	1.00 - 3.30 pm
Sun 18th	Family Pond Dipping	Family fun. Come and try your hand at pond dipping to discover what beasties you find in the dam. Follow the signs from the Visitor Centre, approx half a mile. Grade 2.	Gartmorn Dam Visitor Centre	Any time between 1.00 - 3.00 pm
- May -
Sat 22nd	Himalayan Balsam pulling	As part of Scottish Biodiversity Week we will be working to improve the habitat of the River Devon. The river suffers from large areas of invasive non-native plants. We will be removing Himalayan Balsam at the side of the river. Grade 1.	Moss Road carpark, Tillicoultry	1.30 - 3.30 pm
Sun 23rd	Bluebells and Silver	A circular walk around the upper reaches of the Ochil Woodland Park giving fine views of the Devon valley from this former country house estate. Hear about the secrets of treasure in the Silver Glen and search for the remnants of old mines hidden in this area of the Ochil hills. Some steep slopes, strong footwear and outdoor clothing essential. Grade 1.	Woodland Park carpark	1.30 - 3.00 pm
- June -
Sat 26th	Gartmorn Dam Workday	As part of the Local Nature Reserve Celebrations come along to help the Countryside Rangers improve and protect valuable habitat. Grade 1.	Gartmorn Dam Visitor Centre	1.30 - 3.30 pm
Sun 27th	Mini Beast Hunt	As part of National Insect Week and the Local Nature Reserve Celebrations come along and help us hunt in the undergrowth for marvellous minibeasts. From wiggly worms to lovely Ladybirds, who knows what you might find. Make a hotel to help minibeasts survive the winter. Grade 1.	Gartmorn Dam Visitor Centre	1.30 - 3.00 pm
- July -
Sat 31st (evening) to Sunday 1st August (morning)	Family Camp Out	If you have never been wild camping before and want to experience one night under canvas with your family then come and spend the night in the woods with the Countryside Ranger Service. Booking essential. Grade 1.	Gartmorn Dam Visitor Centre	Contact Rangers
- August -
Mon 9th to Thu 12th	Summer Activities for Kids	This four day adventure lead by the Countryside Rangers in to the darkest woods and waters of Gartmorn Dam, will take a group of 8- 12 year olds through the discovery level of the John Muir Trust Award. On the final day, parents will be invited to join us at base camp. Children must bring warm clothes, waterproofs, lunch, snacks and drinks for the day. Booking is essential and will be taken for the full four days only. Grade 1.	Gartmorn Dam Visitor Centre	Contact Rangers
Sat 28th	Ranger Patrol	Become a Ranger for the day and join the Countryside Rangers in a patrol of Gartmorn to Coalsnaughton. Help to carry out essential jobs to keep the paths looking beautiful. Grade 2.	Gartmorn Dam Visitor Centre	1.30 - 3.30 pm
Sun 29th	Bat Box building	As part of European Bat Weekend, come and help your batty friends by building a bat box. With the help of the Countryside Rangers you will build a bat box and then choose a tree in Cowpark Woods, Gartmorn Dam for the Rangers to put your box on. Grade 2.	Gartmorn Dam Visitor Centre	1.30 - 3.00 pm
- September -
Sat 11th	Rhody Bashing	Take part in a conservation task , helping the Countryside Rangers to get rid of Rhododendron, an invasive species. There will be a small fire with a chance of outdoor cooking. Grade 2.	Woodland Park carpark	1.30 - 3.30 pm
Fri 11th	A Walk on the Dark Side - Night Walk	Join us on the night walk around the Woodland Park, Alva. Looking for bats and other nocturnal creatures that go bump in the night. Please bring a torch and warm clothes. Grade 2.	Woodland Park carpark	7.30 - 9.00 pm
- October -
Sat 23rd	Pond improvements at Cowpark Woods	Time to get the wellies on and help the Rangers improve the ponds at Cowpark Wood. Clearing out and removing the rubbish will help rejuvenate these ponds providing an important haven for wildlife in this ancient woodland.	Gartmorn Dam Visitor Centre	1.30 - 3.30 pm
Sun 24th	Feed the Birds Day	Feed the Birds Day marks the clocks going back and the beginning of shorter days when birds struggle to find food. Come along to find out how you can help our feathered friends this winter and make a bird cake to take home. Grade 1.	Greenfield Park	1.30 - 3.00 pm

Walking Grades

Grade 1: Flat - all on surfaced path less than 3 miles.
Grade 2: Undulating terrain - some sections may be off surfaced paths or more than 3 miles.
Grade 3: Hilly terrain - more than 3 miles mostly off surfaced paths.

Work Days

A Ranger Service workday is the activity for you if you want to

improve your fitness levels;
give something back to the local environment;
meet other people;
learn new skills;
have some skills you wish to pass on.

We will do our best to find a task that suits you, so you don't have to worry about your fitness level or age. You can also choose how long you wish to come along for. Safety gloves and tools will be provided.

Tasks

The workday's tasks may include:

Cutting back foliage from overgrown paths;
Nest/ bat box building;
Tree planting;
Rhody bashing;
Litter Clearance;
Habitat improvements work;
Path maintenance.

Core Paths Plan

If you live in or visit Clackmannanshire, and walk, run, cycle, horse ride, sail, canoe or kayak, or manage land in
Clackmannanshire; the Core Paths Plan affects you.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is life in all its forms. Clackmannanshire boasts an impressive range of wildlife that is not restricted to the open countryside, it thrives in our urban areas too.

A new report celebrating the many successes and highlighting the key achievements of the Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Partnership has been published. The Partnership was formed in 2001 with the aim of protecting the county's natural environment. The Partnership has achieved a great deal, with its actions guided by the
Clackmannanshire Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). This 5 year plan has come to an end, so a Biodiversity Action
Plan Progress Report 2003-2008 has been published, summarising the achievements and looking to future actions.

Achievements include:

Installing 27 barn owl nest boxes. In the past 2 years 22 barn owl chicks have been raised in these boxes.
Improvements to the Delph Pond, Tullibody, including a new nesting platform for the resident swans and two
floating reedbeds.
Constructing Bobby's Bank at Gartmorn Dam, a secure home for sand martins.
Planting over 5km of species-rich hedgerows.
All primary schools have taken part in the Fish Go To School project, giving them an insight into the life cycle of brown trout in local rivers.