THE RANGERS at Rivacre are giving people the opportunity to get their hands dirty.
Tim Lloyd, who works for the Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) as a ranger in the picturesque valley, is offering ‘taster sessions’ for people who want to reconnect with nature.
He has already taken a group of area managers back to basics during a green task day arranged by the Rowlands Pharmacy chain.
The company made a financial donation to the nature reserve and carried out manual work. During the task day, they cleared out rubbish from the waterways, built ‘habitat stacks’, which are piles of wood and material which can be used by nesting birds and hibernating hedgehogs, and also built a bird feeding station near the car park.
Mr Lloyd, who is 25 and lives in Ince, said: “It’s good because it allows people to sit and watch the birds in their cars. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea to go out for long walks, and this allows people to enjoy nature in relative comfort.”
“The task days are a big help to us. For instance, the area managers from Rowlands helped clear some of the bottles and cans that float down into the valley and gather in the culverts.”
“It was a fabulous day. They exceeded my expectations of what to be achieved. They may not be the most hands-on people in their job, but here they really got stuck in.”
“It’s absolutely a benefit to the park having a helping hand now and again. It allows us to concentrate on more important work, because a ranger’s role is primarily to educate people and create awareness about what is on our doorstep.”
As well as the ‘taster sessions’, where visitors can help maintain the park, Mr Lloyd plans to set up a Friends of Rivacre group, which will allow people to get involved.
For more information, call 01513571991.