Green Flag park helping the long term unemployed

24 June 2010

An innovative partnership between a West Lancashire Green Flag Award park, the voluntary sector and a leading training organisation is equipping the long term unemployed with the skills they need to get back into the workplace.

The Park and Countryside Ranger Service at Beacon Country Park in Skelmersdale, has joined forces with Intraining, a specialist in helping the long-term unemployed return to work, to run a series of practical horticulture-based training programmes which lead to recognised qualifications.

Beacon Country Park is playing host to the practical element of the programme by delivering a 13 week placement scheme. The Intraining candidates support park rangers by carrying out estates management work – building bridges, maintaining the green spaces and gathering litter. A recent project – which also involved volunteers from The Volunteer Ranger Service, The Coppice Association Northwest and The Association of Pole Lather Turners - involved using local coppice wood to make charcoal. This was then sold to the public by the ranger service.

The project took an entire weekend – with overnight camping in the park to monitor the charcoal process carefully. The wood was supplied as part of a woodland management programme which helps to conserve local wildlife.

Dan Massey, Head Ranger, West Lancashire Borough Council, said:

“The programme has been a great success to date and is an excellent example of partnership working and community involvement.

“The Intraining trainees, as well as the volunteers and park staff, really enjoyed learning about the charcoal creation process. A process favoured by our Victorian ancestors and a really sustainable way of generating fuel.”

Situated on the western slopes of Ashurst Beacon, to the east of Skelmersdale, Lancashire, Beacon Country Park is the main countryside facility owned and run by West Lancashire District Council.