Chester Zoo is currently on the lookout for somebody to take on the “exciting” role of Weekend Zoo Ranger.
The UK’s leading charity zoo is currently recruiting for a ‘Weekend Zoo Ranger’, which is described as a “key role” that works as part of the Conservation Education and Engagement Team to develop and deliver material to engage visitors with the plant and animal collection, the the zoo’s worldwide conservation work through a range of “diverse, fun, and exciting” educational experiences.
The role is said to be “central to the visitor’s experience” at the zoo.
According to Chester Zoo, those who apply for the “pivotal” role of Weekend Zoo Range will be required to:
Interact with visitors of all ages.
Interact with audiences up to 500 people on a sound system.
Deliver across a wide range of mediums – including talks, table-top activities, play based activities, and storytelling.
Manage two animal walkthroughs (Fruit Bat Forest and Lemurs).
If you’re after a change of career in 2022, then it surely doesn’t get much better than this?
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Ideal candidates for the role will need to have sound knowledge of conservation, ecology and biology, good written and verbal communication skills, a dynamic and creative mind, excellent time management, and planning and customer service skills, with experience of working in the zoo education field, and knowledge of Chester Zoo’s animal collection and conservation work, an advantage.
Due to the nature of the organisation and the role, this is subject to a DBS check.
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What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work then?
Well, as the UK’s “biggest and best” zoo, the zoo has ambitious goals, exciting plans, and an inclusive and diverse organisation that’s made up of nearly 500 permanent and 500 seasonal team members.
“We know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development,” Chester Zoo says.
The ‘Weekend Ranger’ role will see you manage a walkthrough tour of the lemurs and fruit bat forest / Credit: Chester Zoo
The ‘Weekend Zoo Ranger’ role is a permanent part-time position with a minimum requirement to work 21 hours per two weeks with regular weekend work, and there’s also 33 days annual leave pro-rata (based on a 40 hour week)
You will be paid £10.16 per hour for the role.
Benefits include a staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off plus a number of complimentary tickets for your family and friends, access to healthcare plan, and an employer contributory pension scheme.
Fancy it? If you’d like to be in the running for the Weekend Zoo Ranger role, then you can stick an application in via the Chester Zoo website before the closing date of 27/02/22 here.
Dispute over Manichester now ‘resolved’, say Mounfield family
Danny Jones
The family of the late, great Manchester musician, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, have said that the drama surrounding the highly-anticipated tribute festival in his name, Manichester, has now thankfully been settled.
Now the focus can once again return to remembering him as best as possible.
Following plenty of talk about the project following his passing late last year, a live music festival honouring Mani was finally confirmed in March, and the reaction following the event’s announcement has been unsurprisingly phenomenal.
Well, at least for the most part, as there was also some confusion over whether or not Manichester was still a charitable effort as advertised, with son Gene Mounfield disputing claims online. Fortunately, it all seems to have been put to bed now.
On behalf of the boys, and as their legal guardian, I want to thank everyone for the kind messages and concern for their wellbeing. There was a misunderstanding regarding the upcoming Manichester tribute concert, but we’re pleased to share that everything has now been resolved. pic.twitter.com/j8jEMrFzsD
Being organised by Madchester.com and locally-founded fashion label, GIOGOI, the debut edition was said to have the total blessing of Mani’s family, including his brother, Greg Mounfield.
It was also said that the funds raised by the show would be going to the legendary Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassists’ twins, George and Gene, but the latter recently argued that “nothing” was going to either him or his brother and that the news was “dropped” the plans just a fortnight prior.
Gene also said that “if it was a charity gig it would be at Co-op [Live] or Heaton Park, and it would be done by SJM [Concerts]”: a Manchester-based promoters and events company.
All of this was also wrapped up in ever more paper talk and sensationalism, as some were reporting that Noel and Liam Gallagher, as well as other members of Oasis, would be surprising fans as the still yet to be revealed ‘major headliner’.
These rumours have since been quashed, as has whatever miscommunication caused the misunderstanding between the parties concerned, and we are now back to simply looking forward to seeing an already stacked lineup here in the city centre this May.
Damon Minchella of Ocean Colour Scene (a fellow bassist who also tours with Richard Ashcroft) is helping organise and will also be performing on the night itself. As for the surviving Mounfields, they went on to add in an accompanying Instagram post: “We would also like to express our gratitude to PH.
“It means a great deal to all of us that so many people loved Mani enough to give their time and energy to honour his memory in this way. We are genuinely touched by the support.
“It has been an incredibly difficult few years for the boys and for our whole family. We hope this event will bring some much‑needed joy and create new, positive memories for everyone who cared about him.
“With love and thanks – The Family”
It goes without saying that we can’t wait for this city and Greater Manchester as a whole to honour a Manc icon and are looking forward to another year celebrating the thing that never fails to bring us all together: music.
Featured Images — livepict.com (via Wikimedia Commons)/Publicity pictures (supplied)
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Sara Cox tipped to replace Scott Mills for Eurovision 2026
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester’s very own Sara Cox is reportedly set to replace Scott Mills at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest following his sacking from the BBC.
Mills was axed by the news and entertainment corporation on Monday, 1 April, for ‘misconduct’, which has now been revealed to involve a historic relationship with a boy aged under 16.
While the fallout surrounding Scott Mills is only just beginning, the task of finding his replacement in multiple roles has already begun – though it looks like one may have already been decided.
Now reported by multiple outlets, it appears as though Bolton-born Sara Cox is first in line to pick up Mills’ co-hosting duties for this year’s Eurovision show.
Having already been involved with coverage of the event on multiple ocassions in the past, it now appears that she’ll be in post for the Grand Final too.
As a long-standing radio and TV staple, it only takes a quick look at social media to see how much backing she has already received in the past, with a post from last year reading, “Great to have Sara Cox back commentating on Eurovision“, and others from over a decade ago praising her past presenting.
In fact, it might not end just here either, as many are already calling for her to replace the 53-year-old breakfast show host.
From her days as a Radio 1 favourite to becoming a BBC mainstay across the board, her popularity only seems to have grown over the last decade, especially thanks to her charity fundraising efforts.
While an official announcement is yet to be made, the feeling is that it is all but confirmed for her to take over from Mills as part of the Eurovision commentary team.
As for the now vacant early morning slot on BBC Radio 2, the likes of Claudio Winkleman, Vernon Kay, fellow Manc Nick Grimshaw, the aforementioned Rylan, and several others have all been floated as potential stand-ins/future full-time hosts.
Do you think both should be given to Sara Cox, and if not, who would you like to see replace Scott Mills?
Emily Sergeant -
21st February 2022 
