Rangers on loan

Countryside Management students are gaining valuable practical experience thanks to a unique partnership between Scotland’s Rural College and the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust.

Rangers from the trust have been delivering weekly modules with students studying for an HNC in Countryside Management at SRUC’s Elmwood campus.

These include units covering the classification and identification of organisms, geology and geomorphology, conservation skills, and recreation and access.

Students have also visited various sites in Fife, including West Sands Beach in St Andrews, Lochore Meadows Country Park in Lochgelly and Silverburn Park in Leven.

Jan Hendry, Senior Countryside Ranger, at the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, said: “There’s value in the students getting modules delivered to them by the people working in the profession.

“They are out and about seeing real-life examples of how sites are managed, identifying problems such as erosion, and designing and carrying out surveys.”

Victoria Pendry, Programme Team Leader at Elmwood, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for students to learn from professionals working in the industry. With a mixture of lecturers at SRUC and through Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, students benefit from a blended learning experience gaining valuable experience and current industry practice.”

For more information about studying Countryside Management at SRUC, visit the website.

Posted by SRUC on 03/02/2020