Fund set up to help rangers caught in collapse of Torbay's green guardians

A special fund-raising campaign has been set up to help and say thank you to the rangers and volunteers caught in the collapse of Torbay’s green guardians.

The future of some of the Bay’s most precious pieces of land as well as the Occombe Farm cafe and attraction is up in the air after the financially-hit Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust was put into liquidation by its trustees.

Brixham’s Berry Head and its nature reserve is just one of the ‘green jewels’ managed for Torbay Council by the Trust.

ABOVE: Guardhouse Cafe co-owners, Alex Foley and Doug Oakes

It is also home to the Guardhouse Cafe whose co-owners Alex Foley and Doug Oakes have set up the Go Fund Me page for the rangers which has already topped the £2,000 mark.

Alex says: “The Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust went into administration and the hard working ranger team were given one week's notice.

“Come rain or shine these wonderful people have kept Berry Head, Cockington and other areas around the bay looking beautiful over the last 25 years.

“It's a terrible time of year to lose a job. And conservation workers aren't exactly paid well at the best of times.”

Right up until the last minute rangers and volunteers were at Berry Head spreading wildflower seeds after working for a couple of weeks getting the ground prepared.

Alex added: “Our thoughts have been with those affected who are losing their jobs.

“The whole Occombe team - cafe, farm park and play, office staff - all the rangers who work across the sites and all their volunteers who've given up their time. Some come and live here for a year to get experience.

“All these people have found themselves in a rough position through no fault of their own.”

At the moment the fund-raising has been focussing on the rangers.

Alex explains: “There is a lot of sympathy in the community for all of these people and this seems a good place to start.

“We spend a lot of time with the Berry Head Rangers and really value them for the  maintenance, conservation work, education, research that they do. It won't be the same without these people.”

The Go Fund Me has been organised by the Guardhouse Cafe with all funds being distributed to the TCCT ranger team.

An initial target of £1,000 was reached within days and was then increased to £2,000 and then £3,000,with Alex saying: “Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far. This will mean such a lot to the ranger team who are facing a very uncertain future.

“A special thanks to those who don't even live nearby who have donated because they knew it was important to us.”

The Guardhouse has so far no idea what happens next. Alex says: “As yet we have no idea of what / who will take their place. 

“We hope that a new organisation will be formed to take over. Hopefully some of these staff get their jobs back.

“From our customers and Facebook comments we've heard a lot of questions about what will happen, e.g. will the car park toilets be open, who will clean them? Who will empty the poo bins? Can we continue to park for free using the TCCT members pass? We are hoping that somebody is going to come along very soon and start clarifying this kind of thing.”

The Go Fund Me link is here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-the-berry-head-rangers?attribution_id=sl:583c833a-4c55-4ce5-bee8-cf08660e8f98&lang=en_GB&ts=1761723685&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link