The new recruits will be identified by their smart orange uniforms, to encourage visitors to explore the park by directing visitors to discover the park’s wildlife and hidden heritage. They will help to share and reveal the stories of the 590-year-old Greenwich Park, a Grade-1 listed landscape which is part of the UNESCO Greenwich Maritime World Heritage Site and is visited by five million people each year.
The park is home to The Royal Observatory, the Prime Meridian Line, ancient monuments, a Baroque 17th Century landscape and fantastic wildlife. It has a rich social history - home to a World War II bunker, underground tunnels and celebrates figures such as Ignatius Sancho – Britain’s first black British voter.
The volunteer drive supports the park’s community engagement plans through ‘Greenwich Park Revealed’ – an £8 million four-year project led by The Royal Parks to restore, protect, share and reveal the park’s rich heritage and wildlife, putting locals at the heart. The project is supported by a £4.5 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund.
Jo Haywood, Volunteer Ranger Coordinator, said: “All eight Royal Parks are historic, but Greenwich’s history is unrivalled. It was the birthplace of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, is the site of two ancient monuments; a Romano-Celtic temple and an Anglo-Saxon Barrow cemetery and stunning formal gardens.
“The rangers will help bring this history to life and encourage visitors to explore beyond the General Wolfe statue, a hot spot in the park due to its perfect vantage point of the London skyline.”
Cindy Sheehan, a Greenwich Park Volunteer Ranger, said: “I grew up in Devon, but Greenwich Park has been my local park for the past 25 years. It doesn’t matter how many times you visit it - you see something different every day.
“What’s surprised me most about being a Volunteer Ranger is how much you learn, whether that’s from staff, other rangers or visitors themselves. If you love history, wildlife and being outdoors then this will be perfect for you.”
Volunteer Rangers are asked to commit to a minimum of two, two-hour sessions per month. These can be on the same day or spread across the weeks.
Applications close on Tuesday 4 May 2021. Apply via www.royalparks.org.uk/rangers
