Ranger service is short-listed for top award

A COUNTRYSIDE ranger service established by a Lothians college and run entirely by its students has been short-listed for a top award.

The Oatridge College Ranger Service was launched just over a year ago in response to concerns that some people leaving colleges and universities with academic qualifications in countryside and environmental management lacked project management, practical and "people skills".

The service is in the running for the Student Award in the Scotland's College's Awards for 2010.

The ranger service has redeveloped the college wildlife garden to create a demonstration site for schools and community groups, run a team-building event for the Scottish Government's Rural Resource Management unit and organised a number of open days on the College estate.

Lecturer Niall Evans, the countryside management team leader at Oatridge, said: "The project was devised by college staff, but having established a student management group for the ranger service, we have now adopted a hands-off approach."