Member Article

Young Rangers graduate with flying colours

The Coast Care Young Rangers (part of the Coast Care initiative) run by Seahouses Development Trust and staff from the Coast Care project have completed their first year of exciting activities.

Activities ranged from learning about the North Northumberland coast, visiting the Farne Islands, learning bush craft skills, scuba diving and rockpooling to finding out about the work of the Northumberland Coastguard as well as having an introduction to first aid.

In addition, all the Young Rangers also received their Discovery John Muir Award at an awards ceremony with Coast Care staff and their family and friends at St Cuthbert’s Guesthouse in Seahouses, run by Jill and Jeff Sutheran who have very generously supported the Young Rangers since the project began.

The second year of Young Ranger activities will be starting in September 2018 with the programme offering young people, aged between 13 and 19, a great opportunity to learn about the North Northumberland coast including its wildlife, castles and ancient archaeology.

On offer are plenty of fun activities to take part in throughout the course of the year including scuba diving and boat trips, and chance to gain a valuable John Muir Qualification.

The team will be hosting a taster day on Monday 23 July from 10:00 to 14:00 at the Coast Care Hut in Seahouses where interested young people, together with their parents, will have the opportunity to find out more about what it is like to like to be a Young Ranger. It is free to attend and lunch is provided on the day.

For more information, please visit www.coast-care.co.uk/youngrangers. There are only 12 places available, so do not delay. To apply complete the application form on the website, or, for more information email: youngrangers@coast-care.co.uk

Jane Smith from the Seahouses Development Trust says: “All too often, young people receive a negative press, so it is wonderful that this project gives them a chance to make a difference and, as our coastal environment falls under increasing pressure, each and every one of them can be proud that when they join, they really will be helping to preserve the area for everybody to enjoy.”

This view is echoed by Anna Chouler, Coast Care Officer, who says: “I am so excited to be working with our local young people to help encourage a passion for conservation, none of which would have been made possible without the support from players of the National Lottery. The Coast Care initiative has got off to a great start and 2018 is shaping up to be even better.”

The Coast Care initiative works to protect the North Northumberland Coastal area and is run by Northumberland Coast AONB partnership, Northumberland Wildlife Trust and Seahouses Development Trust. It has been made possible thanks to money raised from National Lottery players through a grant of £522,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

You can follow the Coast Care project on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Coast-Care-Northumberland

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Northumberland Wildlife Trust .