Countryside ranger

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

University

You could take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree before applying for a ranger job.

Relevant courses include:

• environmental studies
• rural resource management
• countryside management
• conservation

Entry requirements:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You may be able to get into this job after doing a course at an agricultural or land based college.

Courses include:

• environmental studies and conservation
• countryside management
• T Level in Agriculture, Land Management and Production

Entry requirements:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could do an apprenticeship, for example:

• Countryside Worker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Forest Craftsperson Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Countryside Ranger Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship

These take between 1 and 2 and a half years to complete.

Entry requirements:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Volunteering

You could get useful experience by volunteering through:

• National Parks UK
• The Wildlife Trusts
• The Conservation Volunteers
• Countryside Jobs Service

This may give you an advantage when looking for work.

DirectApplication

You could apply for a position as an assistant ranger in a national park or with an organisation like the National Trust. Once working, you may be offered the opportunity to do further training to become a ranger.

You'll be expected to have some paid or voluntary experience of working in the countryside or conservation, and a love of working outdoors.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:

• customer service skills
• knowledge of biology
• the ability to work well with others
• knowledge of geography
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be flexible and open to change
• legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
• thinking and reasoning skills
• active listening skills
• the ability to read English
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• complex problem-solving skills
• analytical thinking skills
• knowledge of English language
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• maths skills
• concentration skills

What you'll do:

Countryside rangers look after green spaces, woodlands and animal habitats that are open to the public.

You could:

• plan and create habitats to protect plants, trees, animals and birds
• lead guided walks, exhibition talks and educational visits
• inspect sites, monitor wildlife and report findings
• supervise assistant rangers and volunteers in daily tasks
• encourage community involvement in conservation projects
• operate machinery and equipment, and use hand and power tools

Green job

As a countryside ranger, you can work on tree planting schemes to help reduce the effects of flooding. This can have a positive impact on the environment.

Find out more about green careers

Location : You could work in woodland or in a park.
Environment : Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.
Uniform : You may need to wear protective clothing.

Salary:

Starter : £20,000
Experienced : £28,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

37 - 44 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays

Career Path:

With experience, you could:

• become a head ranger, countryside officer or estate manager
• move into more specialised work like forestry, coastal management or wildlife conservation