Countryside rangers from all over the world are visiting the Cairngorms National Park on Saturday 17 June.

The group of around 80 rangers are in Scotland for the International Rangers Federation Conference that has been organised by the Scottish Association of Countryside Rangers and is based in Stirling this year. The trip to the Cairngorms is one in a series of events and study visits that the countryside rangers are taking part in during their week-long stay.

The purpose of tomorrow’s study tour to the Cairngorms is to see how rangers in Britain’s largest National Park help people understand and enjoy the special qualities of the area. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘People and Places – How to Connect People to Special Places’.

The visiting rangers will have the chance to experience first hand the work of rangers in The Highland Council area, Blair Atholl Estate, Rothiemurchus Estate, Forestry Commission at Glenmore, Explore Abernethy, as well as visiting the RSPB and the Craigellachie National Nature Reserves. The tour will culminate with a trip up the funicular with Cairngorm Ranger Service.

Pete Crane, Senior Visitor Services Officer with the Cairngorms National Park Authority, who will be joining the group tomorrow, said: “The organisers have put together a comprehensive programme that will allow our international guests to see some of the really special places in the west of the Park.

“The gathering is also a great opportunity for local ranger services to demonstrate how they encourage visitors to understand and enjoy these special places, and to share similar experience from around the World.”

For more information on the International Rangers Federation Conference please go to: www.ranger-irfc.com/scotcover2006.htm