Advertise

Countryside management

path winding through grassland bordered by woodland

Countryside management covers all land management including urban parks and greenspace as well as rural estate workers, but is usually thought of as rangering.

Including elements of conservation, access, recreation, ecology, environmental education, wildlife and visitor management working in countryside management requires a wide range of interests and skills.

Jobs and employment

Typical jobs include Ranger, Countryside Officer, Reserves Officer, Site Manager, Countryside Worker, Estate Manager, the National Careers Service has role profiles of all of these and many more (click the links).

The National Trust stories blog has case studies and stories about Countryside Management at the Trust, read them here.

See current vacancies advertised with CJS here.

To gain the experience required volunteering is frequently a good start.

See current volunteering opportunities advertised with CJS here.

  

Skills, training and CPD.

There are many different skills and qualifications required to work in countryside management from practical land management techniques to running a social media stream and managing volunteers.

Practical skills frequently requested include:

Other skills often required include: 

For Countryside conservation a qualification in countryside management is usually a prerequisite.

Information and in depth articles

“Do you have any questions?” - why we should all be vetting potential employers, By Hanna Rennie, Conservation Officer/Countryside Ranger

Every Day is a School Day, Debs Carter

“Are you having a laugh?” An opinion piece by Matt Harris

Conservation & Neurodivergent Me, opinion piece from Alister Harman

Countryside Apprenticeships, Bridgwater & Taunton College

CSH Nature Recovery Rangers at the NHS, Centre for Sustainable Healthcare

Find out what it’s like being a Countryside Ranger in the Ask The Ranger Live event, South Downs National Park Authority

Looking for a way to upskill or progress in your career or train new or upskill your employees? Then the new Level 4 Countryside Ranger Apprenticeship could be for you!

Connecting People & Place, Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust

Conservation - an accessible industry?, BCP Council

The perfect Countryside Ranger applicant - is there one? SCRA

Why a hands-on approach to training could benefit your career, Lantra

Working with Volunteers, Derrick Hale from Heart of England Hedge Laying Group

Lots more here. 

 

Useful organisations

Countryside Management Association

Scottish Countryside Rangers Association

National Trust

National Trust for Scotland

Natural England

Scottish Natural Heritage

Natural Resources Wales

More on:

Built by Jack Barber in Whitby, North Yorkshire. Visit Herbal Apothecary for herbal practitioner supplies, Sweet Cecily's for natural skincare, BeeVital for propolis health supplements and Future Health Store for whole foods, health supplements, natural & ethical gifts.