Our work on the Farne Islands

Four rangers, wearing a black shirt with the word 'ranger' in yellow lettering walk up the slipway on the Farne Islands. Tan brick buildings are on the right hand side of the image. Overhear terns fly above against a blue sky. — Rangers walking up the slipway on Inner Farne, the Farne Islands, Northumberland | © National Trust Images/Rachel Bigbsy

Have you ever wondered what it takes to look after the Farne Islands in Northumberland? Here, you can find out more about the life of a ranger on the Islands throughout the year. From repairing the boardwalks and welcoming visitors, to creating the best habitats and monitoring the many species who breed here. It's never a dull day.

The science part

While the Farnes are of course an important visitor attraction, their status as a Marine Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) means much of our work is dedicated to the study of this crucial habitat.

Here on the Farnes we are keen to monitor the many species that stop by to nest, feed and create such a magical spectacle. Whether it is ringing birds to track their movements, using GPS to tag seals, or simply spotting and recording rare appearances by unusual visitors, our team are always working to manage and maintain this precious environment, which is internationally signficiant due to its:

key facts

200,000

breeding seabirds

50,000

pairs of puffins, one of the largest colonies in England

longest running

data set in the world for monitoring its Atlantic grey seal population

Hundreds of dark-coloured seabirds on craggy rocks with a grey sea behind — A seabird colony at Farne Islands, Northumberland | © National Trust Images/Nick Upton

The work of our rangers

Our dedicated ranger team spends 10 months of the year looking after the puffins and other wildlife including grey seals, Arctic terns, eider ducks, guillemots and kittiwakes.

Find out more about the varied work they do throughout the seasons:

In spring we head back out to the islands and get ready to welcome birds and visitors for a new season. Rangers can be found cutting back the vegetation to make space for nesting birds and creating sandy patches for the terns to nest. There's also a jetty to scrub, boardwalk to repair and ropes to put up to ensure the birds are kept safe. Once we're ready, monitoring can begin, starting with Eider Ducks and Shags.
Summer is all about monitoring productivity (how many chicks successfully fledge their nest). The species we monitor include Arctic tern, Kittiwake, Shags, Eider, Razorbill, Gulls. We also count the adults. We have a small boat to sail around the islands to count the cliff nesting birds. Onland we count puffins in their burrows by looking for signs of occupancy, for example, fresh digging, guano (poo) and feathers around the entrance. If we can't see any signs we put our arms down the burrow to feel for occupancy, and hope we don't get a nasty peck.
In the winter we close down the island, incuding the buildings. We place shutters over the stained glass window on St Cuthbert's Chapel to protect it from winter storms.

Whilst back on the mainland, we analyse all of the data gathered over the summer months and write up reports so that we can get a picture of how the bird populations across the islands are faring.

As winter draws to a close, the Area Rangers begin the recruitment process for a new team, ready to begin again the following spring.

A ranger, wearing a black shirt with the word 'ranger' in yellow lettering and a tan hat bends down in the vegetation on the Farne Islands. Overhear terns fly above against a blue sky. — A ranger working on the Farne Islands | © ©National Trust Images/Rachel Bigsby

A day in the life

This time-lapse film was taken during the nest-count day on Inner Farne. You can see the Inner Group team surveying the island tops before the visitors arrive on the island at 1.30pm.

Keep an eye out for rogue curious puffins, a rising tide and the current moving through the Kettle – the channel where boats access the island.

Support our work

You can support the important work on the Farne Islands by visiting our shop in Seahouses or with a donation. As a charity, we rely on supporters to help fund the work we do on the Farnes to protect this important habitat.

With your ongoing support, we're able to continue our vital conservation work. Thank you for helping to protect these special places.