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.
Two North West cities named among the ‘noisiest’ in the UK – including Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A new analysis has revealed a list of the noisiest cities in the UK, and two Greater Manchester locations are in the top five.
From blaring sirens and car horns, to house parties, barking dogs, and loud neighbours, escaping the noise of a city can feel almost impossible – even in your own home.
No matter whether you live in the hustle and bustle, or you’re out in the sleepier suburbs, noise can keep you up at night, disturb your peace, and lead to frustration. But just how loud are Greater Manchester’s cities compared to the rest of the UK? In a bid to get to the bottom of it, Alpine Hearing Protection has done some research to compile a top 10 list.
And both Salford and Manchester have found themselves not just within the top 10, but within the top five… and to make matters worse, Salford has actually claimed the number one spot.
The reason Salford has found itself at the top of the list, according to the research, is because it sits at the intersection of several major transport and urban hubs, with major motorways running through or around the city including the M60, M61, and M62.
Major rail routes also run through the city – including via Salford Crescent – which sees 16 million passengers every year, and also leads to Manchester Airport.
Top 10 noisiest cities in the UK
Salford
Portsmouth
Manchester
Southampton
London
Leeds
Stoke-on-Trent
Wakefield
Newcastle upon Tyne
Bradford
Parts of Salford are also very built-up, making pockets of the city noisy – especially in the concentrated centre where traffic, construction, nightlife and commercial activity get loud.
And of course, like any growing city, construction noises have been noted as ‘particularly bothersome’ for residents where major developments are springing up.
Manchester is third on the list of noisiest cities, due to many of the same reasons as Salford.
But the difference being that Mancunians are noted as one of the many reasons why the city is so loud – with residents making 5,301 noise complaints across Manchester between January 2024 and January 2025, and Hulme identified the loudest area with 304 complaints.
As well all know, Manchester is also home to many universities, which brings an active nightlife scene to the region, especially in the city centre, and in recent FOI data, it was revealed that the University of Manchester saw 2,049 noise complaints in the last five years.
Motorists warned of common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines
Emily Sergeant
With the temperatures drastically dropping now as we head into winter, motorists are being warned against a common driving habit.
On a wintry morning when the windscreens are frozen and your hands are equally as frozen too, it’s pretty common for drivers to start the engine, turn the heater right up, and remain stationary for several minutes to warm the car up before setting off on their journey… but did you know that doing this could see you, inadvertently, fall foul of the law?
That’s right – as ridiculous as it sounds, leaving your car engine running ‘unnecessarily’ while parked on a public road is illegal.
And to make matters worse, the rules on ‘engine idling’, as it’s known, apply regardless of whether the driver is using the heating, waiting for someone, or simply sitting in the vehicle.
Known as a stationary idling offence, Rule 123 of the Highway Code states that drivers must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while it is stationary on a public road, and according to the rule, a fixed penalty of up to £80 can be issued, right there and then.
Motorists are being warned of a common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines / Credit: PickPik | Wikimedia Commons
Fines will only be handed out if a motorist is stopped by a police officer who asks them to switch the engine off, and they fail to comply.
“However tempting it might be to sit in a vehicle with the engine running and the heater on to warm up, we strongly advice against it,” commented RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis.
“As well as polluting the air and wasting fuel, drivers who leave their engines idling unnecessarily on a public road also risk an on-the-spot fine of £80. On cold mornings, the best approach is to clear any ice or snow properly and ensure windows are fully de-misted before setting off, then get on your way and let the car warm you up.”
There are some exceptions to the rule, however, as keeping the engine running is permitted in certain circumstances.
This includes when a vehicle is stationary because of traffic conditions, when the engine needs to run so a mechanical fault can be investigated, or if certain work is being carried out on the side of the road.
Emily Sergeant -
21st February 2022 
