Country Parks/Countryside Ranger Service

Aberdeen City Council Countryside Ranger Service is committed to working for a biodiverse, best value and socially inclusive future for all the City's countryside resources. It will work in partnership to offer quality environmental education and recreational opportunities for all:

• based at Lochinch Farm, Redmoss Road, Nigg (near Loirston Loch)
• manages 31 countryside sites throughout the City including  4 Local Nature Reserves and 2 Sites of Special Scientific Interest
• offers many educational opportunities for all ages
• runs a walks and events programme during the summer and winter months - please download the full programme from the link to the right.
• promotes biodiversity in the City.

Lochinch Farm

Lochinch Farm is the base for the Aberdeen City Council Ranger Service.  It is just to the south of the City near Cove and Loirston Loch.  The easiest way to get to Lochinch Farm is from the southbound A92 Stonehaven Road from the Bridge of Dee.  About 2 miles south of the Bridge of Dee take the exit for Aberdeen Harbour A956.  As you join the A956 turn immediately left, if you get to Loirston Loch on your left you have gone too far.  After about ½ mile turn right, signposted to Nigg, Lochinch Farm is just along here on the right.

Click to see the Location map.

What is there at Lochinch Farm?
Lochinch Farm is the Countryside Ranger Service base.

The Ranger Service is based in a converted granite barn – the Lochinch Countryside Interpretation Centre.  The majority of the downstairs area of the building is a large classroom/visitor centre which is open by arrangement and is available for visiting groups to use as a base and indoor facility for educational visits.  If the Rangers are on site they always welcome visitors to see the displays. 

In addition to the fields there are pleasant walks alongside Loirston Loch where there are also bird hides overlooking the loch.  In winter you may be lucky to see large flocks of ducks and geese on the water, and during the summer the lochside vegetation is alive with small birds and insects.  In the middle of the Farm there is a small pond which is popular with visiting school groups for a spot of pond dipping, there is easy access to the water from boardwalks.

Other facilities

• Car park
• Children’s play area
• Toilets (available to groups using the visitor centre)
• Ranger led educational visits by arrangement
• Plenty of space for picnics and informal games

Educational Opportunities
Lochinch Farm makes an ideal base for an educational group visit.  The Rangers can lead a wide range of activities for all ages from pre-school to university students and beyond.  Popular subjects are pond dipping, minibeast hunts, birdwatching, and tree study.  Other subjects could include drama, mathematics, English, or anything else you would like to suggest we will consider!

The Rangers have a good supply of equipment available for visits including pond nets, sweep nets, pooters, an assortment of plastic containers and magnifiers, TV and video facilities, slide projection equipment and much more.  With the Lochinch Farm Countryside Interpretation Centre available as a base or indoor area what more could you need!

The Ranger Service will also lead environmental educational visits to any of the other 30 City Council owned countryside sites listed below. Countryside Ranger led activities are free of charge for school groups undertaking curriculum based studies. Other activities are chargeable, please contact the Ranger Service for more details.

Scottish Natural Heritage may be able to offer grant aid to schools to help with transport costs, please ask the Rangers for more information.

Sites managed by Aberdeen City Council Ranger Service

• 1. Auchmill Community Woodland
• 2. Brimmond Hill
• 3. Carnie Woods
• 4. Coastal Footpath from Cove to Nigg
• 5. Cove Shelterbelt
• 6. Danestone and Woodside
• 7. Deeside Walkway from Duthie Park to Peterculter
• 8. Den Burn
• 9. Den of Cults
• 10. Den of Maidencraig Local Nature Reserve
• 11. Donmouth Local Nature Reserve
• 12. Eastwood Croft
• 13. Elrick Hill
• 14. Four Hills Walks (Brimmond, Elrick, Kirkhill, & Tyrebagger hills)
• 14. Hazlehead Park
• 15. Hilton Woods
• 16. Howes Road
• 17. Kincorth Hill Local Nature Reserve
• 18. Kingswells, in partnership with the Community Council
• 19. Lochinch Farm, Ranger base
• 20. Nigg Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest
• 21. Northfield to Brimmond Hill Link
• 22. Ord Dam
• 23. Pot Heugh
• 24. River Dee Walk
• 25. River Don Walk
• 26. Scotstown Moor Local Nature Reserve
• 27. Torry Walkway
• 28. Tullos Hill and Community Woodland
• 29. Walker Dam

Local Nature Reserves

Aberdeen City Council Ranger Service manage four Local Nature Reserves around the City.  Each was selected as a local nature reserve for their locally significant wildlife, educational opportunities and community involvement.   There is a management committee for each reserve made up of local people with an active interest in the site and specialist advisors.

Please see the links on the right to the local nature reserves.

Contact

• Ian Talboys
  Countryside Officer
  Environmental Services
  38 Powis Terrace
  Kittybrewster
  Aberdeen, AB25 3RF
  Tel: 01224 897400
  Fax: 01224 894069
  Email: italboys@aberdeencity.gov.uk