'I can't believe I am paid to do this' PS Public sector's local heroes.WORKING in the great outdoors has its benefits... especially if your office space is 10,000 hectares of stunning parkland. Jo Booth has been a ranger RangerAny of a series of unmanned probes launched from 1961 to 1965 by NASA. The project was NASA's earliest attempt to explore the Moon's surface. Ranger 4 (1962) became the first U.S. spacecraft to hit the Moon, crash-landing on its surface as planned. at the Pentland Hills The Pentland Hills is a range of hills to the south west of Edinburgh, Scotland. The range is around 20 miles in length, and runs south west from Edinburgh towards Biggar and the upper Clyde Valley. Regional Park for two years. Jo, 29, of Morningside, Edinburgh Morningside is a famously genteel area in the south-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is south of the areas of Bruntsfield, Burghmuirhead (including Holy Corner and Church Hill); south-west of Marchmont, and south-east of Merchiston. It is to the north of Comiston and the Braid Hills. , is one of six rangers Rapidly deployable airborne light infantry organized and trained to conduct highly complex joint direct action operations in coordination with or in support of other special operations units of all Services. who conserve natural resources and educate visitors on the countryside code. WITH its 100 kilometres of pathway and breathtaking breath·tak·ing adj. 1. Inspiring or exciting: a breathtaking view; a breathtaking ride. 2. Astonishing; astounding: breathtaking insensitivity. views of Edinburgh and Fife, the park attracts 600,000 visitors every year. Jo said: "I love my job. Sometimes I come to work and I can't believe I am getting paid to do this." Jo wanted to be a ranger from the age of nine when her parents took her for walks in the Pennines. She did a degree in conservation management before working in the Great Glen Great Glen or Glen More, valley, 60 mi (97 km) long, Highland, N central Scotland, extending from Moray Firth SW to Loch Linnhe. It was formed by a fault in the earth's surface. for four years. Now she takes groups for walking tours of the park and leads activities for youngsters such as pond dipping and woodland skills. She said: "Many of the children from the city have never experienced a place like this and it's great to see them having fun and learning. Education is a really important part of the job. We try to make people understand the countryside is a living, working landscape. "We have access to these amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. places but it is important people stick to the laws so we can all enjoy them." The job is not all about peace and quiet however and the tranquillity is broken when Jo gets out her chainsaw. She said: "Estate management is another role we carry out. We remove dangerous trees, build paths and facilitate access." Rangers get paid around pounds 19,000 a year. Academic qualifications help but experience is just as important. Jo said: "You can volunteer with a conservation charity to learn practical skills or get paid work experience as a seasonal ranger in the summer and gain valuable on-the-job experience." Visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/phrp/ |
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