Now that we’re moving into summer, it’s time to welcome our new team of assistant rangers to Loch of the Lowes. Assistant rangers are a dedicated team that work alongside resident Ranger ‘Raz’ to maintain and run various Scottish Wildlife Trust reserves in the wider Perthshire area.

Charlotte
Having previously worked as a part of the osprey watch team earlier in the season, I’m now looking forward to getting more stuck in to the nitty gritty of practical conservation. I’m currently an undergraduate student with the Open University, studying an Open Degree in Environmental Science, and aim to improve my plant and animal ID skills during my time here. After spending a lot of time immersed in the world of ospreys, I’m excited to become more involved with projects such as Beaver Watch, and I’m hoping to improve on public speaking through helping to run presentations on the diverse wildlife we see around Lowes. Despite this, you’ll still find me transfixed with the osprey nest and livestream, and I’ll be more than happy to talk to anyone who will happily listen to me ramble on about all things osprey.

Emma
I graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in Animal Biology and the intention to delve into the world of wildlife conservation. I have a particular interest in animal behaviour, and my first week here hasn’t disappointed; I’ve learned so much already about the wildlife around Lowes, from ospreys and beavers to my wonderfully quirky and passionate colleagues (who I could gladly listen to for hours, speaking about their special interests)! If I can be half as knowledgeable as they are by the end of this summer then I’ll consider it a huge success, but I’ll be happy if I can at least identify a few more plant species beyond the “green and leafy” level. My personal goal is to see a pine marten in the flesh. Wish me luck!

Jackson
I’m an undergraduate student studying Conservation Ecology in Cornwall, so I’ve travelled a long way to get here! This is my first time in Scotland and before arriving at Lowes I spent the last month hosteling across the Highlands exploring lochs, trails, mountains and trying not to get lost! It has been incredible seeing ospreys, beavers, red squirrels and countless other species that I have never had the opportunity to see before and I can’t wait to spend the rest of the season learning more about all the amazing wildlife here at Loch of the Lowes and beyond!

Keep up to date with our blog if you want to know more about what we’ll be getting up to on our reserves!

Assistant Ranger Team