5 minutes with... – globetrotting ranger Rob on why there’s no place like home

5 minutes with...

He’s travelled the world, yet National Park ranger Rob Kenning finds his native Peak District still has the power to surprise.

Before joining the Peak District

National Park I was an expedition

leader, taking students and adults on adventures and volunteer projects in different countries around the world, predominantly in the global south.

I grew up in the White Peak. As a kid, I’d go sledging in the winter at Chatsworth and, later on, I pulled pints at the Stable

Bar at Monsal Head. I got married here as did both my sisters, so the Peak District holds lifelong memories for me. I just never expected to have the chance to be back working here in my 30s! I feel very lucky.

I love the variety that each day at work

brings. In any week, I could be working with partners on collaborative projects, doing a litter pick with volunteers and speaking with residents and visitors about local issues and points of interest. Of course, I have a fair wedge of desk time as well to make plans and respond to issues via email. Every day is different and that is important to me.

The least exciting part of my job is filling

in spreadsheets – for example, keeping records of access monitoring completed by volunteers or recording Rights of Way issues. But I try to break it up, helped by a cup of tea and listening to some Red Hot Chili Peppers to get in the flow. And, let’s be fair, is there anything more satisfying in life than a completed spreadsheet?

People might be surprised to learn that ranger work in 2020 is more computer-

related than they might expect. A lot of issues and resolutions come via email these days, so you just need to plan your time to make sure you are keeping up with the demands from the desk and the dale! Park. I was checking out signage with an experienced volunteer ranger colleague and we stopped at a fabulous spot at the top of a small patch of woodland just north of Millers Dale Station. I had never been – a reminder that the Peak District can keep surprising you even after several years.

My advice for getting the most out of the Peak District National Park is to have

a plan before you visit. Some research about the place you want to visit, the walk or ride you want to do and how to get there will really help. There’s also some countryside etiquette to follow, so knowing the Countryside Code (#peakdistrictproud) will help you stay safe and enjoy your visit more. The Peak District National Park website has lots of info and our visitor centres (in Bakewell, Castleton, Edale and Upper Derwent) are well worth a visit. And, of course, our friendly rangers are here to help – look out for the ‘green shirts’!

Rob enjoys the fact every day is different and is still discovering areas of the Peak District he hasn’t visited before.

Rangers receive some strange questions

and comments at times. Recently someone complained about the amount of ‘sheep poo’ there was in the National Park – it’s a living landscape with a lot of sheep around, so that’s a given in many areas I’m afraid.

If I could be anywhere else in the world,

it would be Peru. I have some family there and every time I visit I see a different landscape. From coastline and desert to jungles and 6000m peaks, Peru has incredible diversity. I think that’s why they have literally thousands of types of potato... another great reason to go!