Ranger Ged gets on his council bike

Countryside ranger Ged Connell is bolstering Moray Council’s green credentials by opting for pedal power as he does his rounds of the area’s designated trails.

He has swapped the ranger service’s 4x4 truck for a bike on which he carries out inspection work on the Speyside Way long-distance path and the Moray Coast Trail.

The bike is ideal for accessing the more remote stretches of footpaths across the area.

Ged, who has been with the council for 17 years, is a team of one and is responsible for all aspects of maintenance of the routes which are used by thousands of cyclists and walkers every year.

Lone ranger Ged saddles up on his robust mountain bike which is now part of the council’s transport fleet and expects to cover around 800 miles a year on two wheels rather than four.

Although he will still require the truck for much of his day-to-day duties, the bike will help cut down on the council’s fuel bill and reduce its carbon footprint even further.

“Having the bike is not only more environmentally friendly, it also allows me to interact more closely with the people who use all of our trails,” said Ged. “I will be able to meet more people as I do my rounds and let them know about underfoot conditions, where to see local wildlife and tell them about the local heritage.”

Moray Council’s environmental protection manager, Colin Bell, said: “We knew Ged was a keen cyclist anyway and providing him with a bike for his routine inspection patrols had been spoken of for a while.

“We are delighted that he now has the bike which is very much in keeping with the council’s policy of reducing its carbon footprint wherever possible.”

The council already has a fleet of pool bikes at its headquarters in Elgin which are available for use by staff.

Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 95,510 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.

Headquartered in  Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.