Members' News September 2004

Members' News
September 2004

Farewell from the National Chair

As most of you will be aware, I will be retiring as National Chair at this year's AGM. My earliest involvement was as Minute Secretary for the Professional Development Working Group. I progressed to taking minutes for National Council and became Worcestershire County Representative on the Southwest Regional Committee. Shortly afterwards I became National Secretary, then National Vice Chair and finally National Chair.

"We will only achieve our true potential in this regard if we share our knowledge with others". I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the fantastic people who have supported me over the years in CMA, particularly the current National Council members and my fellow Executive Officers, Roger Cole, Ceri Daugherty and Richard Brooks. I would also like to thank Ian Bamforth and Worcestershire County Council for offering me 100% support at all times with my commitment to CMA, and Mike Marshall for his unstinting support as a Vice President.

Why have I (and my employer) been so committed to CMA? The answer is easy. I believe that those of us who are working in countryside and urban greenspace management have a vital role to play in protecting biodiversity, providing opportunities for informal recreation, creating opportunities for access for all, promoting social inclusion, raising awareness of environmental issues, involving local communities, protecting the environment, and contributing to economic regeneration. We are all involved with these issues to a lesser or greater extent - they are the common threads that bind us. However, we will only achieve our true potential in this regard if we share our knowledge with others, if we are given recognition as a profession, and if our views are sought and respected by key decision makers.

We have achieved a great deal over the last few years in these respects. We have established a website and an e-group, re-launched RANGER magazine and introduced the Accredited category of membership. In the meantime we have found ourselves increasingly consulted by government agencies, amongst others. Yet there is more we can achieve. My parting plea is that we should embrace our increasingly wide family of colleagues involved in countryside and urban greenspace management. Whether we are a Ranger in an urban park, a Project Officer in an AONB, or an Access Officer in a National Park, there are common issues that unite us all. Let's embrace them!

Andy Maginnis - National Chair

LAW of the COUNTRYSIDE (Fifth Edition – 1994)This is an invaluable reference book

CMA, in co-operation with the author, Charlie Parkes, first published this book in 1983. This is the fully revised 1994 (fifth) edition. We are now clearing our old stock before discussing the commissioning of a new edition.

This is an invaluable reference book, especially for students and new Rangers; Wardens or other countryside officers. Though published in 1994, many things have not changed and much is still relevant.

Originally sold at £10, we are offering this at a knockdown bargain price of £5 which includes postage & packing. Send your order with cheque (payable to C.M.A.) or a purchase order to CMA Admin at Writtle College. Stock is limited so first come first served!

Wardens and rangers were invited to Aberystwyth on 16th July, to discuss the Countryside Council for Wales’ ‘Concordat’ for the delivery of countryside management within Wales. After a welcome by Bryan Riddleston, Chairman of the National Access Forum for Wales, Edward Holdaway spoke on why he felt there was a need for a Concordat, and Gareth Roberts, Head of Resource Management for CCW, proposed their support for one. During the day, delegates also discussed the role of wardens/rangers, the employers, and the role of training providers.

The initial thrust of the Concordat was from the CRoW Act 2000, to provide common standards and training for new Access staff dealing with ‘rights to roam’. However, CCW were now trying to develop it into something that the Conference believed to be unworkable. Its’ recommendation was to concentrate on access standards and training ready for the launch of the many new Open Access areas next May. Following that, the Concordat could be widened to cover the roles of wardens and rangers.

This Concordat has important consequences for both CMA and the Welsh countryside services. Chief Officers of each organisation that deals with countryside issues will be asked to sign up to it.

However, this could make it difficult for the CMA to continue in Wales, particularly if CCW will be carrying out the same functions of running training and establishing standards, accreditation and networking systems. So keep your ears to the ground for future developments on this one.

Tom Woodall, Chair - Wales Region (see contacts list)

2004 Seminar and AGM

There are still a few places left for this years’ popular (50 bookings so far) event at Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes on Thursday 4th November. With a topical seminar on ‘Haskins and You’ the day should be an informative one, besides being an excellent chance to network with colleagues from across the country. Places are limited so apply now to the CMA Admin Office (01245 424116) if you are thinking of coming. Cost £35.

Meet your new Editor

Welcome to my first edition of Members’ News!

I’m one of this years’ crop of new CMA members, so it’s a pleasure to have been considered for the post. As Visitor Services Officer for Flintshire Countryside Service I’m allowed to play with text in my day job. In general our team seems to enjoy what I produce, so I hope I can do a quality job for you too.

CMA has some interesting plans for MN which you can read about in this edition. If you’ve got something to say about it, even if it’s a one line email, it would be great to hear from you at nic.sheerin@flintshire.gov.uk or on 01352 719177. Wishing you all the best in your work until the next edition!

Are you an MCMA?

The National Council at their last meeting in September confirmed the fact that accredited members of CMA who have had their CPD points accepted for the current year 2004/05 may use the post-nominals ‘MCMA’ after their names.

Renew your membership

We still have many members who have not renewed their membership for 2004/05. Whilst we accept that there will always be those who choose not to renew, the numbers are worryingly high this year. Don’t forget when you renew that our fee level represents excellent value compared to other professional membership organisations.

Richard Brooks – CMA Treasurer

Reminder: Constitution changes

If you are not attending the AGM and are currently eligible to do so, please register your vote regarding the proposed changes to the constitution with the CMA Secretary (see contact list) by no later than Friday 29th October. Details of the changes were circulated with the last copy of the RANGER magazine.

Phil Bolton: CMA Training Adviser

In 2003 I volunteered to sit on the CMA Professional Development Panel and in 2004 I took over as CMA training advisor. I also offered to be the contact person for the SE Region whilst a new Regional Chair is sought.

As training advisor it’s down to me to develop and coordinate CMA training events across the country and that’s where I need your help.

- What training do you do?
- What training do you need?
- What are the needs of your new recruits?

My own background is 20 years of practical conservation and training, working in three National Parks and also in the Lee Valley Regional Park.

Like many, I started my career volunteering with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers in the ‘80’s, and it grew from there. Following my Environmental Science degree, gained after an Open University course and lots more volunteering experience, I joined BTCV Enterprises as a project supervisor in Merton; London. There I became a qualified trainer/assessor for both NPTC and Centra, training 18-24 year olds in practical environmental skills towards NVQ1 City and Guilds as part of the New Deal Environmental Task Force.

From there I moved to Berkshire College of Agriculture in 2001, eventually becoming Countryside lecturer for Further and Higher education courses. In 2004 I joined Hadlow College, where I am now Lecturer in Countryside Management and Fisheries.

I’m very interested to find out more about the needs of you, the CMA members, so please drop me line about any of your training issues.

As a quick aside, I’m also looking for placements for my students in the Kent; Sussex & East London areas. Any takers?

Phil Bolton BSc Hon, MCMA (see contacts list)

Phil Armshaw: Chair - Midlands Region

I live in Handsworth, Birmingham with my partner, dog, and four Marran hens.

Like many people of my age in conservation, I gained my first experience on the Manpower Services Commission schemes of the 80’s. I graduated with a BSc in Environmental Studies in 1987 and worked as an environmental youth leader before joining Cannock Chase Council in 1991. The Countryside Service at Cannock has continually evolved undertaking innovative work in heathland restoration, interpretation, and grazing reintroductions to urban grasslands and commons.

I look forward to working with the members of the Midlands Region, spreading good practice and sharing anecdotes.

Phil Armshaw, Midlands Chair (see contacts list)

2006 Congress - Stirling

The 5th International Ranger Federation Congress will be held in Stirling, Scotland, from 14th to 21st. June 2006. The Scottish Countryside Rangers Association will be hosting the event, whilst CMA is giving support with specific tasks. SCRA Secretary, Alison Wilson, tells us how it’s going with the preparations -

“We’re definitely on track! Our next major task is finalising the Programme, which should appeal to a broad spectrum of delegates. We’ll be doing daily field trips into our beautiful Scottish countryside in addition to the usual presentation of papers.” The call for papers will be going out in November, and they will be open for bookings in January ’05.

Alison is also on the lookout for volunteers to help with the event, and has an attractive ‘perks package’ for anyone who is able to give their time and energy. She would be particularly interested to hear from anyone able to give translation support. Help from Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German speakers would be most welcome.

Tessa Jones, also at SCRA, is co-ordinating offers for ‘job shadowing’ but would still welcome more from both the UK and the rest of Europe, so spread the word!

Alison Wilson, SCRA Secretary email: aliwilson@aol.com
Tessa Jones email: tessa.jones@highland.gov.uk
Organising Team for IRF Congress 2006

Well, you see, I’m just a Ranger, and you ask me what I do.
Well perhaps it’s nothing better than to talk to blokes like you.
But you see I’ve got this dunny, that’s clogged up full of #hit
And I have to go unblock it, so if you’ll wait a little bit
I’ll come and see you after and I’ll gladly shake your hand
And tell you what a Ranger does, out in this sunburnt land.

Don’t let me interrupt your dinner because I really can’t stop to talk.
I’ve got to go and search the scrub for a tourist who went for a walk.
And someone said they saw some smoke so if they aren’t a liar
I guess I’ll be up half the night putting out a fire.
And I have to help this joker whose car’s bogged in the creek.
He drove along a closed-off track, that got washed out just last week

So if you think I just drive around in a flashy four-wheel drive,
Counting all the kangaroos and keeping them alive,
I’d love to find a bit of time so we could have a talk,
But I’ve got twenty people here to go on a guided walk!
So perhaps on another occasion I’ll drink a beer with you,
But now you see I’m a Ranger, and I’ve got far too much to do.

Chris Artiemiew, Queensland Fire & Rescue Service

We’d be interested to hear from more of you about ‘Your Patch’, whether you have Chris’ creative flair or not! Ed

At the 2003 AGM the posts of Chair and Vice-chair were filled by Andy Maginnis and Roger Cole respectively for a one year term only. Neither Andy nor Roger will be standing again this year. Following the call for nominations for Chair & Vice Chair, those received to date are detailed below-

One nomination has been received for the post of Chair of CMA for Mike Woods. Mike has been with Buckinghamshire County Council for 13 years and currently leads their Countryside and Heritage Service. Previous experience has been with the Countryside Service in Rotherham Metropolitan Borough; as Warden of a Field Study Centre on the North Yorkshire; volunteering for the Flamborough Heritage Coast and the North York Moors National Park and as a Deputy Warden/Chief Instructor at an outdoor pursuits centre in Scotland. He has been a member of CMA/ACR for over 20 years and sits on the Corporate/Senior Members Working Group.

One nomination has been received for Vice Chair for Ceri Daugherty. Ceri has worked for Defence Estates, an agency of the MOD, for 3 years. She is currently Senior Countryside Policy Advisor, and prior to that was an Environmental Advisor. Her first job in Countryside management was as an Area Countryside Ranger on the Gower Peninsula AONB, which she did for 4 years and fulfilled her work ambition! Ceri has been a member of CMA for 6 years and is currently an Accredited Member and also National Secretary, a post that she has held for 2 years.

Please note, that should Ceri be elected to the post of Vice Chair, a replacement will be required for the post of Secretary. Should anyone like to talk to Ceri about the role or indeed offer their services then please get in touch with her (see contacts list).

CMA comments have recently been submitted on the following consultations:

1. DEFRA guidance for the public on commercial activities under Part I of the CRoW Act 2000. A response was submitted on 30th September. This consultation was only open to a select number of bodies, which included CMA.

2. Welsh Assembly Government consultation on S38 (Means of Access) Notices. A response was submitted on 30th September.

Details of these responses will be posted on the CMA website. There are no outstanding consultations. However, CMA does sit on the Local Government Association Access Advisory Group. This will be involved in the Countryside Agencys’ research project into the work of Local Access Forums. The project will investigate their successes and limitations, recommend approaches to further support, and clarify the role of such fora. Please contact the CMA Secretary (see contacts list) if you have any comments you wish to be raised, or if you wish to receive a copy of all CMA consultation responses.

Members’ News was originally conceived to bring short and topical news items or CMA issues to the attention of members on a regular basis.

In the last edition of Members’ News we suggested moving it to an electronic format and asked you for your views about it. Would it be more useful to you in this format? If you have any thoughts, pro or con please send them to the editor, Ms Nic Sheerin or to the CMA Admin Office at Writtle College (see contact list). We will still be able to reach over 90% of our members via email, whilst saving on postage, which could amount to a saving of over £1,000 every year.

All your responses will be considered by the Marketing Group and by National Council before any decisions are made.