COUNTRYSIDE rangers could soon be employed as part of a scheme to maintain and promote rural areas.

North Yorkshire County Council has come up with a series of ideas to boost the rural economy following a review of the services it offers to people living in the countryside.

A team made up of county councillors, council officers and representatives of the Ramblers' Association and British Horse Society has identified key areas for improvement.

One of its ideas is to employ voluntary rangers who would manage different habitats, plant trees, maintain public rights of way and run local events, such as guided walks.

A volunteer co-ordinator would be employed to recruit at least 50 volunteers each year.

Another option is to have parish caretakers carrying out a number of tasks, including ditch clearance and verge maintenance.

On a larger scale, the review team has recommended that a county-wide countryside management service be set up.

The service would employ four or five countryside officers who would liaise with farmers and landowners, give conservation advice and help to attract external funding.

They have also recommended that a rural regeneration initiative should be created for North Yorkshire.

Similar to a successful scheme already in place in Lancashire, it would see farms and businesses in rural areas offered advice on funding and diversification.

Implementing all the recommendations would cost a total of £600,000 over five years and the review team found that investment was already needed.

Joan Dyke, a best value officer at the council, was part of the review team.

She said: "The team found that the services under review have been subject to underfunding over a long period. This has produced a marked shortfall in the level and quality of service provided.

"The clear need for a restructure of the services and increase in service provision to the public had been recognised by all stakeholders and was reflected in the review team's recommendations."

The recommendations will go before the council's environment and heritage overview and scrutiny committee next week.