Introduction
Local government countryside rangers manage and maintain
open spaces such as parks, woodlands, heaths, common land and urban
green spaces. In more urban areas they may be known as park
or leisure rangers.
Work Environment
Most of a local government ranger's time is spent
outdoors patrolling open spaces. There may be some time
spent writing up reports in an office.
Daily Activities
Local government countryside rangers are usually part of
a team of rangers within the countrysideorparks and recreation
service. Each ranger takes responsibility fora number of
sites in a specific geographical area and is usually the first
point of contact forpeople living in that area if they have
difficulties or need advice about issues relating to the local
council's open spaces.
Local government countryside rangers carry out a range of
duties, which may include someorall of the following:
- patrolling open spaces to ensure they are safe for public use,
this might include addressing antisocial behaviour issues such as
motorbike riding, vandalism, littering and fly tipping;
- undertaking practical conservation and maintenance tasks, often
in partnership with local conservation volunteers;
- running events for local people to promote proper use of open
spaces and care forthe natural environment;
- visiting schools and community groups to talk about
environmental care and conservation;
- leading guided nature walks and events;
- offering advice to individuals, conservation
groupsororganisations on conservation management, landscape
enhancement, arboriculture and practical conservation skills.
In more urban areas additional tasks might include overseeing
and monitoring parking areas, skate parks and working closely with
community/street wardens.
Skills & Interests
Local government countryside rangers need:
- to be friendly and approachable and able to communicate with
many different types of people;
- confident presentation skills;
- to be able to carry out physically demanding tasks;
- a good geographical knowledge of the area where they would like
to work and an ability to read maps;
- beorganised.
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements will vary depending upon the specifics
of the role within any Local Authority. A full driving
licence may be required orprevious conservation-related experience;
experience dealing with people, ora knowledge of the local
area.
Many countryside rangers begin their career working as
volunteers on conservation projects. This is a great way to
build up practical experience. You can find out more about
becoming a countryside volunteer by contacting your local council
countrysideorparks and recreation service directly.
A countryside ranger may be asked fora recognised environmental
qualification as well as practical skills such as being able to use
certain appliances such as a chainsaworbrush-cutter.
An urban Ranger post will usually require a lower level of
qualification, and there may not be any specific entry requirements
other than experience of dealing with peopleorvolunteering on a
project
Alternatively, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) can provide
information on where to look forvolunteer projects in your
area. BTCV also run a range of training courses from
coppicing, footpath construction and chainsaw use, to map reading,
pond management and hedge-laying. Once in a countryside
ranger position you may find that there are opportunities to work
towards relevant N/SVQs and/oran apprenticeship in environmental
conservation and land based engineering.
Future Prospects & Opportunities
With appropriate training and experience, there may be
opportunities to progress to local government countryside
officerorcountryside manager. It may be possible to move into
different types of role within the wider environmentalorleisure
services departments in the council.
Further Information & Services
Countryside Council forWaleswww.ccw.gov.uk
Environment Council www.the-environment-council.org.uk
Instituteof Ecologyand Environmental Management www.ieem.net
Lantra www.lantra.co.uk
The Conservation Volunteers www.tcv.org.uk
You may find further information about this area of work through
Careers Wales (www.careerswales.com/) or in your
local library, careers officeor school careers library.