Countryside Ranger Internship Update

Hi everyone, Kate again.

I know everything has been quiet on the social reporting front, however, I have been mega-busy over the last wee while. A countryside ranger’s work is never done!

Anyway, I just thought I would give you all an insight into my internship.

My first day, as with any new job, was very daunting. I felt really out of place and nervous as I sat in the council planning office awaiting my fate in my ranger outfit and outdoor boots. I needn’t have felt this way, as I received a very friendly welcome from everyone I met. After all the necessary paperwork was sorted out, I was then shown around the country park by the project officer, Stephen. Now I felt more at-home.

After a couple of hours walking through the country park, I was then taken to the ranger office. Now I really felt at-home as I met the rest of the countryside rangers working for East Renfrewshire Council. Finally….some like-minded (and dressed) people.

I soon settled into the office, and for the first time in my working life, I have my very own desk and computer.

The rest of my first week absolutely flew by. I met the health walkers for the first time on the Wednesday, and got stuck in with the volunteers on the Thursday in the pouring rain.

Since then, I have been on a really steep learning-curve, but I do love a challenge, and in the end, isn’t that what an internship is all about?

My first day without my colleague Eilidh was very daunting.

That day, I rescued a baby owl which had fallen out of a tree.

I have noticed a pattern, every day that I am left to my own devices, all hell breaks loose.

The second time, I had to deal with a tree which had been set on fire (see photo) and a sick swan which was impossible to catch.

And only last Thursday, I thought I had totally got away with a drama free day, until just after my health walk, I spotted a fire engine, Scottish Water emergency van, a police van and an unmarked police car all heading up the dead-end road through the country park. It turns out a teenage girl had managed to get her head stuck in some bars near the old waterworks.

I have also faced the deluge of school groups coming to visit the country park. It is nice to get the kids enthusiastic about nature and wildlife, and see their little faces light-up as they explore nature, even if its pouring with rain. There are some who are less enthusiastic, but we usually turn them round a bit by the end of the day.

I feel that in the last month or so I have settled into the internship properly. I have finally put the finishing touches to my own little project, which was to plan and design some safety/distance marker posts to be installed around one of the reservoirs in the park. The plans are now in the capable hands of the suppliers, and will hopefully be winging their way to me shortly (fingers crossed).

After attending the Adopt an Intern Social Reporting Workshop, I was given the task of creating a facebook page and twitter feed for the country park. Both have been up and running for the last couple of weeks now.
Just search 'Dams to Darnley Country Park' and click the 'Like' button on Facebook or you can follow the country park on Twitter @Dams2Darnley.

So…..thats how my internship has gone since May. I am now in the final month of my internship.

I will write again closer to the end.

As always, you can follow my daily activities as a Countryside Ranger Intern on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kate_intern, and I am always happy to answer any questions anyone has about my internship, my experiences between graduating and becoming an intern, or anything else related to graduate experiences.

Cheerio!

Kate