Our Rangers

Our rangers have continued to carry out further work in the town as well as maintaining Rock Park. February was one of the wettest months on record and despite the challenging conditions tasks were completed as planned.

In the town centre, concerted efforts have been made to continue the battle against chewing gum disposal on our streets and pavements. It’s the bane of many a local council and something our local public often mention. This last month, our rangers have been concentrating on the High Street and Boutport Street, doing whatever they can to remove the unsightly deposits, especially from footpaths and pavements.

We are always keen to receive feedback from our residents, businesses and  visitors about any issue of concern to them. One issue often raised is the unsightly graffiti that sporadically appears. Our rangers have been out tackling this issue, as these photos show.

Our estates team have been especially busy in Rock Park, as well as other areas of town. In Rock Park a new bench has been installed at the bequest of the niece of John Cook, who was a Town Mace Bearer for some 30 years. A tree is also being planted nearby. The bench is made of recycled and low maintenance materials and along with the adjacent tree will provide a new shaded and seating area for visitors.

Two additional benches and have been purchased by the Town Council on behalf of the NHS Trust at North Devon District hospital. These will be placed along North Road and provide a welcome rest break, particularly for those walking from town up the hill to the hospital.

On the subject of benches, we have recently received delivery of 56 Iroko wooded slats, which will be used in the coming weeks as part of a new town centre bench project. Iroko wood is known for its strength and durability and ideal for such a job. Our team will be systematically removing the existing slats from the benches along the High Street, many of which are in poor condition.

A recent successful application to Devon County Council awarded us a tree pack, with a view to planting up further areas of Rock Park, especially those that have lost trees in previous years, The pack contained 45 trees including Oak, Silver Birch and Cherry Blossom and our rangers have been planting them on the edge of existing woodland, near to the football pitches. Once they reach the appropriate size they can be moved to more suitable areas of the park.