News from Arran Geopark

Arran Geopark has recently been awarded funding to enable the Ranger Service to continue this year. Here they tell us more about the post and give an update on their Big Beach Clean which started in May:

This is the third year Arran Geopark Ranger Service has been funded by NatureScot’s Green Recovery Fund. This year we are lucky enough to have 2 rangers from May to the end of September. The Ranger Service covers the whole island and works in partnership with the NTS Ranger Service as well as other landowners.

The team is tasked with addressing “visitor management” issues – working both proactively to encourage responsible behaviour and also reactively – i.e. tidying up after the less responsible!

If you are walking the Coastal Way between Lamlash and Brodick you will probably notice lots of rubbish piled up in various locations. This is part of our Big Beach Clean where we hope to remove as much litter as we can, from as much of the Arran coastline as possible this season. Having started at Cladach, we are heading towards Clauchlands Point. The photo below shows what we collected in just one day (80kg!) and is one of many piles of litter that will be removed in due course.

This afternoon (31st May) we carried on with our Big Beach Clean, this time between Clauchlands Point and Clauchlands car park (see featured image photo), as we slowly work our way into Lamlash Bay. Today saw another 12kg of litter (mainly plastic bottles) removed.

If you would like to help clean up our coastline, keep an eye out for our next beach clean.

There are opportunities for volunteers to help out to – there will be regular volunteer work meets throughout the season. This may involve beach cleaning, tackling invasive species, path repairs or clearing path drainage. Work meets are advertised on our website. Facebook, or email ranger@arran-geopark.org.uk to be kept in the loop.

We hope also to run some family-friendly activities over the summer holidays and, during term-time, will also be providing opportunities for local schools to get involved.

Photo credits: Arran Geopark