Download the Management Plan - Carlisle City Council

keener interest in the work, are older and more responsible and already have a good background
knowledge in environmental work. Longer term sandwich degree placements (up to 1 year) are
much more valuable for students, staff and the site. Students can be provided with more formal
training and take a larger role in site activities. They can also be given individual projects and do
not require constant supervision. We are currently in our 2 nd year of offering year long
placements. 2009 was a student from Harper Adams University College and 2010 is a student
from Bangor University. In 2010 a bursary of £300/month has been agreed to help the student
(who is otherwise unpaid) pay for accommodation costs locally.
Currently all placement students follow a standard application process with a potential for short
listing for interview and may or may not be offered a placement as a result of this.
Some students come to the site requesting research projects, which require varying levels of
input from site staff. These projects should generally be encouraged but assessed on an
individual basis. Copies of any data gathered should always be provided to the site at the end of
the project.
Action
Investigate further longer term placements.
Community Programmes
Friends of Talkin Tarn
This group was in the pipeline for several years but no firm decision was made on how the group
would be organised and what its purpose would be apart from community involvement in the
site. Then a set of proposed aims of this group were drawn up by the site manager in 2008 and
were posted for consultation on site notice boards and in the newspaper. No feedback was
received.
A further review of the friends group proposal was made in May 2009 with the start of parking
charges. The group was launched in June 2009 via a press call. Members were invited to join up.
Each member receives a membership card and a free site newsletter 4 times/year. It is likely that
over time members may receive certain benefits such as tearoom discounts or special offers. It
may develop in other ways also, but there are no firm plans as yet and will be dependant on
members and their input over time. It is free to join.
Friends Of Newsletter
The newsletter was started in May 09 with the launch of the Friends Of group. A separate
Wildlife Report is also produced every 2 months by the Tarn Supervisor this is published in the
Brampton BIG magazine (delivered free to all houses in Brampton) and displayed on the site.
The larger friends of newsletter, now incorporates this and in addition has site management
news, events and articles as well as wildlife information. It is produced on publisher in full
colour and printed internally by the council print room.
Action
Create Newsletter 4 times/year and keep membership database up to date.
Encourage further development friends of group over time.
Volunteers
Currently there are wide range of volunteers who regularly contribute towards the sites
maintenance and conservation. 834 volunteer hours have been worked at the Tarn from April
2010 to Jan 2011. There are regular enquiries from volunteers who wish to work at the site. The
current arrangements have been built up over a number of years and are sustainable from a
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