Countryside ranger

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


Typical Salary

£20,000 – £28,000

per year

Working Hours

37–44

hours per week

Career Area

Agricultural and fishing trades

View related courses

Day-to-day tasks

As a countryside ranger, you could:

  • plan and create habitats to protect plants, trees, animals and birds
  •  lead guided walks, exhibition talks and educational visits
  •  inspect sites, monitor wildlife and report findings
  •  supervise assistant rangers and volunteers in daily tasks
  •  encourage community involvement in conservation projects
  •  operate machinery and equipment, and use hand and power tools

We've identified this as a green job

As a countryside ranger, you can work on tree planting schemes to help reduce the effects of flooding. This can have a positive impact on the environment.

Find out more about green careers

Skills needed

  • customer service skills
  • knowledge of geography
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • knowledge of biology
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Entry requirements

A driving licence may be required for some jobs.

How to get into this role

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

Career progression

With experience, you could:

  • become a head ranger, countryside officer or estate manager
  •  move into more specialised work like forestry, coastal management or wildlife conservation