COUNTRYSIDE Management students are gaining valuable practical experience at Lochore Meadows Country Park thanks to a unique partnership between Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust.

Rangers from the Trust have been delivering weekly modules with students studying for an HNC in Countryside Management at SRUC’s Elmwood campus.

These include units covering the classification and identification of organisms, geology and geomorphology, conservation skills, and recreation and access.

Students have also visited various sites in Fife managed by the trust, including West Sands Beach in St Andrews, Lochore Meadows Country Park and Silverburn Park in Leven.

Jan Hendry, Senior Countryside Ranger, at the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, said: “There’s value in the students getting modules delivered to them by the people working in the profession.

“They are out and about seeing real-life examples of how sites are managed, identifying problems such as erosion, and designing and carrying out surveys.”

Victoria Pendry, Programme Team Leader at Elmwood, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for students to learn from professionals working in the industry. With a mixture of lecturers at SRUC and through Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, students benefit from a blended learning experience gaining valuable experience and current industry practice.”