Meet Countryside Ranger Robbie
Countryside Ranger Robbie MacEwen is busy all year round, but summer presents a unique set of challenges.
The 39-year-old is based at Yellowcraig and Archerfield where residents and visitors flock to the county’s beautiful coastline during the warmer weather.
Describing the sites under his care as “magical”, Robbie is dedicated to both their preservation and encouraging people of all ages to enjoy them safely.
He said: “I genuinely love my job. I really look forward to going to work and I often wake up with a spring in my step about the day ahead.
“I feel I’m making a difference and I’m passionate about protecting the environment and enhancing biodiversity while helping everyone to experience the outdoors in a responsible and sustainable way.”
"Established and knowledgeable team"
Robbie joined our Countryside Rangers Service just over three years ago. Before that he’d spent eight years as a Park Ranger with Historic Environment Scotland.
He said: “The East Lothian Council Rangers have a great reputation as a very established and knowledgeable team who were the first council-funded Rangers service in Scotland. It was a wonderful opportunity to join them and I’ve learned so much. No two days are the same in my job which is something I relish.”
Robbie, who lives in Musselburgh, divides his work into three broad categories - interpretation, monitoring and maintenance.
“Interpretation can take the form of talks and outdoor learning for groups ranging from nursery classes to retirees," explained Robbie. "We do a lot of educational work on topics like ecology, geography, sustainability, and biodiversity. Then there’s the informal education with people we meet on patrol where we stress the message of ‘leave no trace’ - the idea that you should leave nothing but your footprints to help preserve our countryside.
“Monitoring involves counting plants and animals to keep our finger on the pulse of what’s happening. We monitor our Sites of Special Scientific Interest to check on biodiversity levels and factors which might threaten the ecology of an area.
“With maintenance we deal with health and safety issues, check woodlands for wind-blown trees or storm damage, maintain paths, and record signs of erosion. We carry out litter picking and clean up fire sites as well as getting involved in more specialised habitat management. That might be looking after grasslands and coastal dunescapes, some of which need extra TLC to keep the plants, animals, and fungi happy.”
Promoting safety
During the busy summer months, Robbie spends a great deal of time promoting safety and helping to reduce risks for those visiting Yellowcraig and Archerfield.
He said: “Irresponsible camping can presents various issues, including threats posed by fires. In the nicer weather we ask the question of whether visitors need to have a fire at all. If someone is determined to have a fire, they should have it on the beach, which is tough and resilient, and keep it attended at all times. Once finished, put the fire out with water, don’t just cover it with sand which traps in the heat and conceals a hazard for others. We have special metal bins at our big sites like Yellowcraig and Gullane where disposable barbecues can be safely discarded.
“With regards to water safety, if you’re in trouble or see someone in trouble, don’t hesitate to call 999 for the Coastguard. We try to raise awareness on riptides and where they can be found. People should also be aware of offshore winds which can take you away from the coast. Check the weather forecast and have a ‘buddy’ if you’re involved in activities on the water – someone who knows where you are going and when you’ll be back so they can raise an alarm. More information is available on the Water Safety Scotland website and they really know their stuff.”
Thanks to Robbie and all our Countryside Rangers for the brilliant work you do.