Countryside Ranger

Typical Salary

£17,000 To £30,000

Typical Hours

42 to 44 a week

evenings / weekends / bank holidays

How To Become a Countryside Ranger

You can get into this job through:

a university course
a college course
an apprenticeship

College / University

You could take a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree. Relevant courses include:

environmental studies
rural resource management
countryside management

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

You may be able to get into this job with a college course such as:

Level 2 Diploma in Countryside and Environment
Level 3 Diploma in Countryside Management.

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

Apprenticeship

The following apprenticeships may be relevant to this role:

Level 2 Countryside worker
Level 4 Countryside ranger

some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

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

Day To Day Tasks

You could:

plan and create habitats to protect plants, animals and birds
plant trees and manage ponds
lead guided walks, talks and educational visits
work with volunteers and encourage community involvement in projects
balance the needs of conservation and visitor management
manage exhibitions and resource centres and talk to the public
maintain machinery like chainsaws and mowers
order materials, keep records and write reports

Working Environment

You could work in woodland or in a park.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career Path & Progression

You could join a professional body like the Countryside Management Association, which may improve your career prospects.

With experience, you could become a senior, district or head ranger or warden. You could also become a countryside officer.

Another option is to move into more specialised work like forestry or coastal area management, or wildlife conservation.

Volunteering Opportunities

You could get experience by volunteering with National Parks or conservation charities like The Wildlife Trusts. This will give you an advantage when you're looking for work.

You can search for jobs and volunteering opportunities at Countryside Jobs Service

Tips & Information

Career tips

A first aid qualification may help when applying for jobs.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Countryside Management Association for professional development training and to build up your contacts.

Further information

You can get more details about working as a countryside ranger through National Parks and the National Land Based College.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.