CJS Focus on Visitor Management in association with Visitor Studies Group, published June 2024

Recreation and access to green (and blue) spaces has always been part of countryside management but it is perhaps only since the covid lockdowns that many people have realised quite how important nature is for everyone. Living and working in the North York Moors National Park we see the car and coach loads of visitors coming to explore our beautiful landscape and recharge their mental batteries. We also see what they leave behind, sometimes it is only footprints – but in their hundreds of thousands causing unavoidable footpath erosion - and in the worse cases it’s heaps of litter often left within sight of a perfectly functioning bin – why? Just why?

In this special Focus edition we’re hoping to give you some answers to these questions and guide you to making your visitor offer more appealing and also more manageable for you and your Team.

Like so many others Aberdeenshire Council Ranger Service witnessed an “unprecedented influx of visitors to our countryside during the pandemic restrictions brought this area of our work to the forefront of our daily activities. Previously quiet sites witnessed a huge upsurge in the number of people visiting the site, impacting negatively on the local communities and natural environment. While some of these visitors were experienced countryside visitors it quickly became clear that many were new to our countryside.” They say that: “The primary role of a Ranger is to connect people with place, to build a connection with nature which grows into a life-long awareness and appreciation of our natural and cultural heritage.“ However this can sometimes be difficult in the face of upset or angry visitors and they have devised a series of ways of avoiding this conflict: “We have found that approaching groups offering to help is a good ice breaker and opening to conversations about responsible behaviour. For example, carrying some bin bags, a spare dog lead and some poo bags and can be a friendly gesture into opening a conversation about responsible dog ownership and litter management.“   

So “What Makes a Good Visitor Manager?” asks Paul O’Hagan, Lecturer in Wildlife Conservation, Agriculture and Environment at Harper Adams University. As he says: “For people working in countryside management, particularly on sensitive sites such as nature reserves, the increase in visitor numbers is often a blessing but sometimes a curse.” “Managing the influx of visitors while preserving the delicate balance of rural ecosystems requires a strategic approach and the right set of tools” he continues, stating that “countryside managers need a wide variety of skills and attributes to help them face these challenges.” He outlines many of these skills and requirements for success from clear and concise communication to strategic planning to mitigate any risk to visitor or site.

And talking of risk, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park has a comprehensive Risk Management Strategy which James Downie, Ranger Manger for the Park outlines. Saying: “The rugged terrain, variable weather conditions, and diverse activities such as hiking, boating, and camping can pose potential hazards as well as the varying level of experience among visitors”. Whilst wanting to identify potential dangers and mitigate that risk they also do not remove every sense of freedom. Advocating the “no nasty surprises” principal their completed assessments have been used with other partner agencies and form the foundation of several sets of guidance. “Through a combination of proactive measures, effective communication, and collaborative efforts the park strives to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all our visitors.” says James.

National Parks are an ever popular location to visit, such as Exmoor National Park but the Parks have multiple roles and point out: “not only to look after our spectacular moorland and coastal landscapes, but to provide opportunities for the public to enjoy and understand the special qualities of the place”. Exmoor want people to experience the Park in a responsible way which is generally achieved via information provision in “visitor centres”. Like many National Parks the Centres are so much more than information points and to emphasise this point are called National Park Centres. Having worked at one of the local North York Moors Centres as an Education Assistant I can attest to them being so much more than: “where are the loos and do you have a café?” Exmoor have completed a series of improvements and are giving their centres a more inspirational aspect placing an emphasis on the human touch with their “Exmoor Experts” providing “bespoke advice based on an individual’s specific interests, skills and abilities and the circumstances of the day.” A significant increase in Centre footfall suggests their approach is working.

At the recent Cost of Culture conference run by the Visitor Studies Group they considered how some of the barriers to participation can be applied to countryside visitor attractions.

Much of the research presented found that audience habits have changed in recent years with many diverting their attention away from cultural institutions to open green spaces, they also analysed trends in visitor activity post pandemic and in light of the recent cost of living crisis but making attractions child friendly was seen to be imperative when decisions were made by visitors about sites to visit. Suggested solutions include: “having an engaging trail around your site or loaning wellies or explorer packs to keep young ones engaged may help to boost your visitor numbers”. As they say: “Heartening though it is that audiences have been shown to favour time outside, we must not rest on our laurels.”

Obviously hoards of tourists, as I alluded to, can also cause problems, not only for residents but also the impact on nature and wildlife must not be underestimated and should be considered when planning access to sites. “Recreation use can damage a site’s nature conservation interest and hinder potential for nature recovery,” say Footprint Ecology who have been working in this tricky area for over two decades. The issues are varied with a wide range of impacts, such as trampling, disturbance, increased fire risk, and contamination. Clearly this is a difficult balancing act and there are no easy solutions, however, “Carefully thought-out visitor management strategies, with planned access provision, can however result in the best of both worlds.”

For some insight into the work behind the scenes we asked Colin Simpson, Head of Visitor Services & Active Travel at Cairngorms National Park Authority about his job. It’s a relatively new area for the Park and he spends a lot of time, “engaging with partners to assist them in how they help to make the National Park a better place”. He said: “My role includes overall management of the team which ranges from about 20 in winter to 35 in summer when we take on seasonal rangers. A lot of time is spent on office based activity such as planning future work.” Although much time is spent in the office Colin says “I do have a welcome amount of time out on site or visiting partners”.
 

If you’d like to read more or if we’ve whetted your appetite to join in then click through to see CJS Focus in full.