It's a fair swap - Pembrokeshire College students are helping others to step out onto National Park footpaths in turn for a leg up onto their chosen career paths. A group of NVQ Level 2 Countryside Conservation students have been helping Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to open up new walks to the public. Under the guidance of National Park ranger Richard Vaughan, they have opened public rights of way in the North of the Park, at Brynberian and in the Gwaun Valley. The rights of way open up onto footpaths and Access Land and all the areas needed clearing before the public could use them. The project gave students a chance to undertake a wide variety of countryside work, including clearing vegetation, installing stiles, gates and benches, planting trees and building traditional Pembrokeshire hedgebanks. Ranger Richard Vaughan said: "The students have done a great job and it's really nice for them that other people can now enjoy these parts of the Park thanks to their efforts. "The partnership with the college has benefits for everyone, as the students gain valuable experience of working in the countryside; we get an enthusiastic bunch of volunteers and the public gets the chance to explore new areas of the Park." About a dozen students carried out the work over December and January, as part of the National Park Authority's partnership with Pembrokeshire College. Each year, the authority gives practical experience and skills training to Countryside Conservation students, many of whom gain nationally-recognised certificates as a result. Students who have previously completed college courses have gone on to secure seasonal posts with the authority's coast path and sites maintenance teams. Several now have permanent jobs with the authority, most recently Dylan Phillips who is the new site warden at Castell Henllys Iron Age Fort. Steve Brick, the National Park Authority's technical officer, said: "Working with us, the students can gain certificates for handling pieces of equipment like brush cutters and flail mowers. Equally importantly, they gain invaluable experience of working with our dedicated teams of wardens. "Over the years, it has proved a very successful link with the college, which has come through the authority's membership of the college's industrial liaison panel."