A Countryside Ranger works to protect and preserve the natural world, from woodlands to beaches
Over 25% of our country is covered by National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and more than 350,000 hectares are managed by organisations such as the National Trust, Natural England, Wildlife Trusts, and the Royal Society for Protection of Birds.
All these organisations and this vast amount of land rely on countryside rangers to properly manage and maintain the natural environment, and to teach other people about what it involves. You could be the technician who helps to protect nature in all its forms and inspires other people to do the same.
With experience, you could become a senior, district or head ranger or warden. You could also become a countryside officer, working inside a local government organisation or charity.
Another option is moving into more specialised work, such as forestry, coastal area management, or wildlife conservation.
There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.
But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:
Options available after GCSEs:
More options available after that:
Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.
There are many different environments you could be involved in managing, including moorland, heathland, wetland, woodland, grassland, coastal, and protected landscapes. You’ll be responsible for organising, supervising and delivering specific land management programmes, community engagement, and projects with a range of different partners.
This role can also be known by some other job titles including:
Community Ranger
Estate Ranger
Estate supervisor
Park Ranger
Ranger
Recreation Ranger
Reserve Warden
Countryside Warden
