- 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
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
You'll usually:
- 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
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work in woodland or in a park.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.
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.
You can get more details about working as a countryside ranger through National Parks and the National Land Based College.
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