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Countryside ranger

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

Potential salary
£16,000 to £30,000
Working hours
42 to 44 a week
  • 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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