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Park Ranger  Helen

“ You can't beat working in fresh air every day! ”
Who?

Helen Lamarque, 45

My job
I'm a ranger at the Lee Valley Regional Park home to several Olympic events in 2012.
What do rangers do?
Day to day, I look after the wildlife habitat of the park. As it's a new park, we're trying to help all the different plants grow so that we can attract the right insects and animals.
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My best bits

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  • It's good to keep busy now the weather's getting a little bit chilly - it saves you from getting cold!
    fri, 15 oct 10
  • I've enjoyed the World Cup, apart from England's poor display of course
    thu, 08 jul 10
  • The best thing to do in weather like this is get outside - which is why I love my job at this time of year!
    thu, 17 jun 10
  • I like the Olympic mascots. Looking forward to seeing them in 2012!
    fri, 21 may 10
  • It's been good to see all the families out and about and enjoying Gunpowder Park over the bank holiday weekend!
    mon, 03 may 10
  • Tottenham Hotspur's Luka Modric helped us open a new wood chip path at Tottenham Marshes last week!
    fri, 26 mar 10
  • I've just finished a tractor driving course. It was very exciting - I can't wait to do some work in a tractor soon!
    mon, 15 mar 10
  • We get sent on lots of courses so the learning never stops. There are lots of opportunities, even if you don't have qualifications.
    tue, 09 feb 10
  • Even little bugs, caterpillars and spiders are important - if we didn't have them, you wouldn't have any of the bigger animals!
    mon, 25 jan 10

My career path:

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Previous month
February

...As well as seeing all the new flowers popping up everywhere the warmer weather will be good for my leg - after injuring it last year it gets a bit sore in the cold weather! It hasn't slowed me down too much though - I'll keep on going!

thu, 20 jan 2011

The weather's a bit miserable this time of year. I still enjoy working outside but I'm looking forward to spring...

tue, 18 jan 2011

...At the moment they're finishing digging around the course and planting trees!

wed, 12 jan 2011

Me and the other rangers have been told we can go and have a walk around the White Water site in February when they’ve finished the landscape work...

mon, 10 jan 2011

Happy New Year to you all! Lot's to look forward to this year...

fri, 07 jan 2011
 
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CloseWho?

Helen Lamarque, 45

What do rangers do?
Day to day, I look after the wildlife habitat of the park. As it's a new park, we're trying to help all the different plants grow so that we can attract the right insects and animals.
What attracted you to the job?
I was interested in the countryside and conservation, so when the company that owned the leisure centre were bought out I decided I didn't really want to be stuck behind a desk anymore.
Is this the kind of job no classroom can prepare you for?
You can only learn so much from reading books - there's no better way to learn than out in the field. You do have to get your information from books though.
Is this a career you would recommend?
Anyone who likes working outside and doesn't mind physical labour would love this job. Every day is different - you can plan your day in the morning, but you can guarantee something will crop up to surprise you!
How pleased are you that Lea Valley is an Olympic venue?
I can see lots of good - people visiting the Olympics will travel up and see the park which will be really positive for the local area.
What do you love most about your job?
When you see birds and animals in the park, you know that you've got it right and what you're doing is working. Even little bugs, caterpillars and spiders are important - if we didn't have them, you wouldn't have any of the bigger animals!
How often do you get an adrenaline rush at work?
I get excited about going out and doing work. When you think "That looks really good", you feel like you've achieved something worthwhile.
University's not the be all and end all is it?
It's not, because a lot of the stuff a ranger does, you learn when you're on the job. We get sent on lots of courses now too, so the learning never stops. There are lots of opportunities out there, even if you weren't as successful at school as you'd hoped to be.
What's the toughest challenge you've faced so far?
Dealing with groups of volunteers who are all different ages is a big challenge but I enjoy it.
CloseWho?

Helen Lamarque, 45

Will you go to any of the Olympic events?  Susie, 17
I'm chuffed that I might get a chance to go to the games in my own country. I don't mind what I get to watch Susie! How about you?
Do you get to work with animals?  Tracy Smith, Newcastle
Not directly. But I've just been on a course to learn how to handle sick animals. Quite often people will call us out if they find a sick swan for example and we'll have to pass it on to the RSPB or relevant authority.
What sort of little bugs do you get in your park?  Tamzin
Hi Tamzin. There are many bugs to be found at Gunpowder Park, from spiders, centipedes and beetles to bees and ladybirds!
What GCSE's did you get in school to become what you are today ?  Megan Davies
Hi Megan! They were called O-levels when I was at school! I took exams in Maths, English, French, Art, Geography, History and a few others… because of the way it worked I couldn’t choose to do any of the sciences. They would have been really helpful! I remember I did quite well in the ones I sat though.
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