Field Notes: Nevis Junior Rangers learn key hill skills

Nevis Conservation Officer Nathan Berrie reports on the latest skills that our 12 Junior Rangers from Lochaber High School are learning in and around the Ben.

The Nevis Junior Rangers spent their first two sessions of 2023 gaining their First Aid at Work qualification. Part of this involved spending a day indoors learning theory and best practice from Laura Macadam-Slater from Emergency Action Training who took them through the course.

During the remainder of the Junior Ranger programme, we are planning some outdoor scenarios for them to practice their new skills in the field. This element of the programme helps them work towards their SCRA Junior Ranger award.

The first opportunity came up during our first ‘Hill to Grill’ session in Glen Nevis Nevis. We discussed how to help someone who had twisted their ankle in a remote location - with the Junior Rangers demonstrating their new skills by wrapping up my colleague Nevis Manager Alison Austin within an inch of her life to keep her warm (pictured below).

During the rest of the Hill to Grill session, the Junior Rangers met one of our local deer stalkers, Iain King, to learn all things deer management at Nevis. We discussed deer species, food miles, culling for conservation, had a go at spotting deer through various scopes and then took part in a pretend stalk through the terrain.

For their final Hill to Grill session, we will travel to Creag Meagaidh Nature Reserve, where reserve manager Rory Richardson will give the Junior Rangers a tour of the ground and larder.