Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone

The Open University
  • 0.0 (0)
  • COURSES
  • COMPLETE
Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone Podcast

What does the idea of a ‘Cairngorms National Park’ mean to the people who live and work there? In these films we contrast six private lives lived out in a National Park. From park ranger to farmer, shop owner to school student and a young mum to a service station proprietor we explore how living in a national park affects their lives. We learn of the conflicts between preserving the wild beauty of the park – which is home to 25% of the UK’s threatened bird, animal and plant species – and providing new homes for its growing population.

Episodes

  1. 26/11/2014

    The Garage owner's tale - Joanne Morris

    Joanne and her car mechanic husband fancied a change of lifestyle eleven years ago and moved up from Lancaster to buy the garage in Braemar. He has steadily built a reputation as a good mechanic, and she runs the adjoining petrol station. She tries really hard not to compete with other local shops, and tries to source what isn’t available locally such as plants, pet food and hardware.

    5 min

  2. 26/11/2014

    Transcript -- The Garage owner's tale - Joanne Morris

    Joanne and her car mechanic husband fancied a change of lifestyle eleven years ago and moved up from Lancaster to buy the garage in Braemar. He has steadily built a reputation as a good mechanic, and she runs the adjoining petrol station. She tries really hard not to compete with other local shops, and tries to source what isn’t available locally such as plants, pet food and hardware.

  3. 26/11/2014

    The shopkeeper's tale - Bobby Nield

    Bobby and his brother Freddie worked in the iconic Murchies store in Kingussie as young boys and years later, after both playing football in the Highland League, ended up buying the shop and running it. In June he will retire. Bobby thinks the National Park has denied local residents an element of democracy.

    5 min

  4. 26/11/2014

    Transcript -- The shopkeeper's tale - Bobby Nield

    Bobby and his brother Freddie worked in the iconic Murchies store in Kingussie as young boys and years later, after both playing football in the Highland League, ended up buying the shop and running it. In June he will retire. Bobby thinks the National Park has denied local residents an element of democracy.

  5. 26/11/2014

    The farmer's tale - Tilly Smith

    Originally from Hertfordshire, Tilly married a Keeper from Cairngorm and has lived in the area since the early 80s. They run a famous reindeer herd and visitor attraction near Aviemore, and 30 miles further East a farm with rare breed pigs, sheep and wild boar. She is cynical about the purpose of the National Park – she feels it’s simply another level of bureaucracy, and she can’t identify many changes it’s produced.

    6 min

  6. 26/11/2014

    Transcript -- The farmer's tale - Tilly Smith

    Originally from Hertfordshire, Tilly married a Keeper from Cairngorm and has lived in the area since the early 80s. They run a famous reindeer herd and visitor attraction near Aviemore, and 30 miles further East a farm with rare breed pigs, sheep and wild boar. She is cynical about the purpose of the National Park – she feels it’s simply another level of bureaucracy, and she can’t identify many changes it’s produced.

  7. 26/11/2014

    The student's tale - Donald Rodgers

    Donald will finish school next year, when he hopes to go to University and ultimately become a geography teacher. He’d like to spend some time abroad, but will probably come back to settle in the area. He’d miss friends and the area in equal proportion. There’s so much to do, especially if you’re into adventure sports.

    4 min

  8. 26/11/2014

    Transcript -- The student's tale - Donald Rodgers

    Donald will finish school next year, when he hopes to go to University and ultimately become a geography teacher. He’d like to spend some time abroad, but will probably come back to settle in the area. He’d miss friends and the area in equal proportion. There’s so much to do, especially if you’re into adventure sports.

  9. 26/11/2014

    The mum's tale - Kat Amos

    Kat Amos is a young mum of three kids, living with her husband in Aviemore. Both of them are outdoor instructors and they left Glasgow as they though the Cairngorms was an ideal place to bring up their family. Kat works part time at the local school and nursery and they own their home with shared equity. For Kat, the provision of affordable housing for young families is a problem in the National Park.

    5 min

  10. 26/11/2014

    Transcript -- The mum's tale - Kat Amos

    Kat Amos is a young mum of three kids, living with her husband in Aviemore. Both of them are outdoor instructors and they left Glasgow as they though the Cairngorms was an ideal place to bring up their family. Kat works part time at the local school and nursery and they own their home with shared equity. For Kat, the provision of affordable housing for young families is a problem in the National Park.

  11. 26/11/2014

    The park warden's tale - Ross Watson

    Ross grew up on a farm near Aviemore and started his career as an apprentice warden on Cairngorm Mountain. He is now a Ranger at Abernethy RSPB Reserve, married with two young children and still one of the youngest Rangers in the area. Without doubt, for him the Cairngorms is the best place in the world to live – it gave him, and his children now, so many opportunities while growing up.

    5 min

  12. 26/11/2014

    Transcript -- The park warden's tale - Ross Watson

    Ross grew up on a farm near Aviemore and started his career as an apprentice warden on Cairngorm Mountain. He is now a Ranger at Abernethy RSPB Reserve, married with two young children and still one of the youngest Rangers in the area. Without doubt, for him the Cairngorms is the best place in the world to live – it gave him, and his children now, so many opportunities while growing up.

  • 12 Episodes

About

What does the idea of a ‘Cairngorms National Park’ mean to the people who live and work there? In these films we contrast six private lives lived out in a National Park. From park ranger to farmer, shop owner to school student and a young mum to a service station proprietor we explore how living in a national park affects their lives. We learn of the conflicts between preserving the wild beauty of the park – which is home to 25% of the UK’s threatened bird, animal and plant species – and providing new homes for its growing population.

Information

More From The Open University

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada