Focus on a ranger

Steve Tatlock, Lake District National Park Lake Ranger

Area covered:

Lake Windermere

How did you get into this job?

A job swap with a ranger colleague.

What tempted you?

The chance to learn new skills, especially in helping to manage the environment.

What do you get out of it?

Sometimes the job remit seems very scary, because it is so incredibly wide. But it is a truly fantastic job, in world-class scenery.

What’s special about Windermere?

Apart from being England’s largest lake in the country’s best National Park, it is the ever changing moods. Not forgetting the people, of course, and the ‘craic’ as the Irish say.

What are the best - and worst - parts of the job?

I enjoy having the chance to influence the management of the lake environment and there is great job satisfaction.

The worst thing is dealing with aggressive people when I have to enforce the byelaws.

Have there been any memorable incidents?

Sad stories would include attending fatal accidents on the lake, and then having to go to the inquest.

I once had to 'rescue' a swan in Bowness Bay, which was being overfed to the point of illness on visitors' white bread sandwiches.

Embarrassing times would include going to rescue a supposedly broken down hire boat to find two young women skinny dipping alongside!

One unusual task was providing logistical support to the Army bomb disposal team, when they blew up a Second World War ordnance. Another was pretending to be a boat-driving ne'er-do-well so police could practice their stop and arrest skills!

What is the most magical time of day on the lake?

Dawn and dusk, or any time when the wind is blowing a complete hooley.

Inspired?

Then check out our Current Vacancies or have a look at our volunteering section. You can also see vacancies for England's National Parks on the National Parks Portal (opens in new window).