Course: 12-week Nature Recovery Traineeship

“The traineeship has given me the confidence to go into the nature sector without formal academic qualifications, and also reinvigorated me to pursue what I believe in.” (Autumn 2025 trainee)

Spend 12 weeks with Ambios on an immersive learning journey, where you will gain a deeper understanding of nature and develop the practical skills, knowledge, and confidence to pursue your dream career supporting nature recovery.

You will be based on our wildlife-friendly farm and rewilding site on the Sharpham Estate in South Devon. The training is embedded in Ambios’ nature recovery work, helping you build a wealth of first-hand experience indispensable in developing a future working for wildlife.

Through a combination of workshops, field experiences, presentations, practical sessions, and hands-on training you will cover a breadth of learning, including:

• Foundations of Nature Recovery - Explore ecological principles, the state of UK nature and land management approaches for nature recovery.
• Natural History Skills & Knowledge - Enhance your wildlife identification skills for plants, birds, bats and learn wildlife monitoring techniques, including camera trapping and bird surveys.
• Fungi & the Importance of Soils - Understand soils through workshops, sampling, and earthworm surveys. Delve into the diverse world of fungi.
• Species Reintroductions to Support Nature Recovery - Study responsible species reintroductions with real-world examples from Sharpham and Devon.
• Sustainable Food and Farming - Join horticulture sessions in our organic vegetable garden. Discover the relationship between nature and farming, wild food foraging, and plant-people connections.
• Practical Land Management - Gain hands-on experience in woodland creation, tree planting, hedge laying, livestock handling, safe tool use, and countryside management.
• Green Woodwork & Rural Crafts - Connect with nature through traditional rural crafts, including spoon carving, charcoal burning, and stool-making workshops.
• Networking, education & engagement - Engage with our community, join environmental outreach efforts, broaden your network and gain valuable experiences.
• Personal development - Receive personalised support to boost your confidence, enhance career prospects and find your direction in nature recovery.
• Field trips - Visit partner rewilding sites, explore different landscapes in the surrounding areas of Devon and learn about their management approaches.

You will also be encouraged to live sustainably during your time with us, helping in our organic garden, farm, and shared community life.

This is a unique chance to gain hands-on experience in a real-world setting, supported by a team of wildlife professionals. Ambios, with its 30-year legacy, offers a team of professional scientists, land managers, and conservation educators ready to enhance your learning and placement experience with their diverse expertise. People who have attended this course have gone on to work for environmental organisations including The Wildlife Trust and the RSPB. Click here to hear testimonials from previous Ambios trainees.

To apply

Places are limited. To find out more about the traineeship and how to apply visit our website.

This is a full board residential placement, the price includes accommodation, food, training, and field trips.