Eglinton Park's junior rangers can’t wait to get back to work

And the park’s Junior Rangers Service is one of the groups who continue to keep in contact with the team.

The Junior Rangers are an active group who join forces with the rangers and and get to work on projects and fun activities in the park.

At times it can mean hard work but the enthusiastic youngsters have a ball at the park with their senior counterparts.

Last week they hosted a Zoom meeting with the juniors to see how their lockdown was going and to make sure they were getting plenty of fresh air and exercise.

A spokesperson for the Rangers services said: “It’s so important to keep in touch, see smiley faces and hear how everyone is getting on.

Junior Rangers at work

“From catch-ups and playing online games with friends, to watching films, learning French and Japanese, as well as reading, setting up a new fish tank, and even wild swimming.

“They’ve certainly been keeping occupied and we cannot wait to welcome them back to the park.”

The park rangers have been helping deliver food parcels for Kilwinning Community Hub and Irvine Hubs to people who were shielding.

And they have been busy on social media sharing their own efforts at getting their step counts up as part of DrEAMNA, a campaign to get the community moving during lockdown.

The rangers asked people to get outdoors, either in their garden or in their local area to set goals, try some bird watching and look for signs that spring is coming, posting pictures of snowdrops, beach walks to encourage people to share their own experiences on the park’s Facebook page.

And one outdoor enthusiast, Susan Hill of Kilwinning got involved in the ranger’s mission.

“I’m keeping a list of the different type of birds I see,” said Susan. “The most recent additions are a pair of Greenfinch, they were at our feeders but I do a short bird walk from my house and I am on the lookout for lichens.”

Share your own wildlife photos on the Eglinton Park Ranger’s Service Facebook page.