With concerns surrounding climate change and biodiversity loss featured constantly across global media platforms, the rural environment has become the centre of attention, attracting many visitors and interest groups to examine, study and enjoy different facets of the countryside.
Facilitating these visits and engaging with visitors is an increasingly important component of the remit of the rural practitioner:
• Hosting school groups and community groups and conducting tours of the local environment
• Demonstrating management practice and restoration of habitats
• Engaging with university students collectively and through questionnaires and interviews
• Liaising with volunteers and scientists conducting survey work
• Acting as tourist ambassadors, communicating with walkers, visitors and tourists
Other forms of education include:
• Assistance to youngsters seeking workplace learning providing experience and potential employment opportunities.
• Teaching others the correct procedures, safety and etiquette in the shooting field
The rural workforce, gamekeepers, stalkers and ghillies, possess a unique set of skills and expertise, often ignored by policy makers. They provide an invaluable wealth of local knowledge, imparted with integrity, appreciated by many.
The rural workforce act as Enablers to different facets of Scotland’s National Performance Framework and National Indicators which include:
