Naomi Dillon
Walkers in the North York Moors have a new ranger to look after their landscape.
Naomi Dillon has been appointed senior ranger for the northern area of the national park, in a move that sees a reduction in areas from four to three. Two rangers and a field team will cover each area, with a ‘floating’ field team working across the whole national park area.
Ms Dillon was previously countryside access officer at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and has a range of countryside and environmental management qualifications and experience.
She said: “The North York Moors is such a lovely place to work. Much of it is already familiar to me but I am also discovering many new areas and special places. No two days in this job are the same which is what appealed; one day I could be meeting with landowners or parish councils and another helping our volunteers or apprentices with a task.”
The North York Moors National Park Authority says head of park management and technical assistant posts have been created to look after the strategic and administrative duties freeing up the rangers to develop closer links with the people who live and visit the North York Moors.
Richard Gunton, director of recreation and park management, said: “Having bid a fond farewell to two of our senior rangers – Frank Pickles and Colin Dilcock – we had an opportunity to make some changes to the ranger service.
“Our rangers are, for many people, the first point of contact with the authority and the new structure should mean they can spend more time out and about in the North York Moors protecting its wildlife, improving access and providing information to residents and visitors.”
The Cleveland Way national trail passes through the edge of the national park on its 177km (110-mile) route, and the final section of Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk makes its way along the northern section before finishing at Robin Hood’s Bay. The Lyke Wake Walk, a 64km (40-mile) challenge which walkers must complete within 24 hours, also crosses the northern moors of the national park.
