An Exciting Opportunity

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RANGER POST

Fixed Term contract for 12months
Salary £25,000 pa 35hours over 7 days

Dunoon Community Development Group is looking to employ a Community Development Ranger whose duties will include:

Promoting the forest areas of The Bishop's Glen and Morag's Fairy Glen and organising community activities.
Developing links between the project and local schools.
Supporting work teams as part of an ongoing maintenance programme for the area.
Encouraging outdoor and environmental activity as a means of improving health and well being.
Contributing to the planning, monitoring and maintenance of forest areas.

DCDG are looking for applicants with excellent presentation skills, the ability to work on their own initiative and a background in forestry or outdoor recreation. The post also requires a driving licence and a willingness to work evenings and weekends as required.

Application forms are available from HELP (Argyll& Bute) Limited at 17/19 John Street, Dunoon PA23 8BN, telephone Chris on (01369)707600 or email chris@helptd.org.uk and should be returned by Friday 17th June.

Funded by the Forestry Commission F4P Challenge Fund.

The answer my friend.....

... is , along with everything else, blowing very muchly in the wind.

After the recent strong winds, many areas of the forest have been affected by fallen or hanging trees or branches. The team have been very busy clearing routes and roadsides across the district, and we can now say that all of the Dunoon's Forest Trails are open and waiting!

Should you happen across any further blockages, please do let us know on 01369 860703

See you around the (windswept) forest.

All too easy!

You will probably all have seen the Forest Fires currently being fought in Perthshire and in England. When the weather has been as good as it has for the past couple of weeks, the ground and forest become very dry and it only takes one carelessly discarded cigarette and large swathes of important habitat can be destroyed.

PLEASE could all who visit the forest take extra care during this dry spell and report ANY fires they see.

See you (covered in Sun Block!!) around the forest.

Flick It!!

Those of you who have been out and about will have noticed the appearance of some new blue signs bearing the slogan "Flick it with a stick". These are in response to an increase in the amount of dog mess being left behind on tracks and in bags tied to trees, gates, fences and waymarkers in the forest. These signs advocate that on the trails - well away from car parks and buildings, that if people are not going to pick up their dog's mess and TAKE IT AWAY then they should flick the mess off the trail with a stick. Around car parks etc we'd still appreciate it if people took their dog's mess away with them.

Hopefully this will increase everyone's enjoyment of the trails.

See you (with flicking stick in hand) around the forest

Road Improvements

Just a quick note to advise that as of Tuesday 22nd February, for two weeks, please be aware of construction traffic in the area as we upgrade the forest road above the Kilbride car park. The trails will remain open but please obey any on site signage.

See you, and probably some big trucks, around the forest!

Spread the Word

2011

A happy new year to you all!

January is now well under way and with the weather relaxing its icy grip (a bit), why not get out into the forest this weekend and remind yourself that trees are not usually white!

The pre christmas weather has delayed things a bit for us; planting which was delayed will begin as soon as the ground is thawed, now we can see the trails our inspections and maintenance can resume, harvesting of some sites which have been waiting to be felled can get underway, and with 2011 being the International Year of Forests and the 75th anniversary of Argyll Forest Park we will be organising a series of events throughout the forests - watch this & other spaces....

So, get out there, breathe in the bracing - but good for you, 2011 air, and I hope to see you around the forest.