RESULTS OF THE RYDE AREA RANGER PROJECT
Community Development
By involving members of the public in decision-making processes, the project helps individuals see things on a community level. This develops community cohesion, and widens educational opportunities and participation.
For example, the Rosemary Lane project has a steering group containing representatives of the local residents, Ryde Community Wardens, The Foyer and Island Volunteers.
Once the project is underway, it will involve all of these groups, as well as Swanmore School, the Forestry Commission and the IWC. | |
Furthermore, the Ryde Area Ranger runs a weekly volunteer day, where members of the community visit sites in Ryde and undertake practical habitat management. This has obvious benefits to people’s health and well-being, and promotes both social inclusion and independence.
Environment Protection
Any works undertaken by the Ryde Area Ranger project have to be of benefit to both the natural and social environment. This is an important criteria for successful funding applications and the central aim of the Countryside Section as a whole. All of the aforementioned ongoing/developing projects produce benefits for both the natural and social environment.
Infrastructure Development
It is not enough to simply ‘protect’ a valuable site. For any development to have a chance of being sustainable, there needs to be infrastructure in place to allow people to experience what is being protected.
| This holds true for management of all public spaces, and the provision of suitable access is a priority for the Ryde Area Ranger project.
The Ryde Area Ranger project is working closely with Ryde Development Trust to try and implement a public access network that services the whole of the Ryde area. |
The Ryde Area Ranger project enjoys the support of the Ryde community and Ryde Councillors. Work has been completed in association with both; something that will continue for the foreseeable future.
Page last updated on: 26/05/2009