Hedgerow Heroes Project Officer

Hedgerow Heroes Project Officer - fixed term contact, 9 months

Closing date: 9am, Monday 1st September 2025.
Interviews: Thursday 4th September.
Start date: ASAP.
Hours: 4 days per week.
Salary: £25,000 FTE pro rata to a 4-day week plus contributory pension.
Location: You will be based part-time at our offices in Welwyn, 31a Church Street with one day per week remotely. You will be required to travel around Hertfordshire as part of the role. Some occasional weekend work may be required.

About the role

This is an exciting time to join CPRE Hertfordshire as we look to initiate our work across the county protecting and restoring the county’s hedgerows. You will be the lead in this ambition to plant and restore over 2km of hedgerow in Hertfordshire.

It is a big project funded by a CPRE corporate sponsor, but the Hedgerow Heroes Project Officer (HHPO) will have excellent allies and advice every step of the way.

Knowledge and experience in conservation would be an advantage, but the main attributes which this person will bring to the role will be top quality organisation and communication skills.

CPRE Hertfordshire will be working alongside another environmental group who will offer guidance and support on choosing hedgerow plants for planting. This role requires working with volunteers to support with hedgerow planting.

The person in this role will be expected to reach out to bring all the networks and ambition together for the hedgerow planting experience.

Good communication will be key at every stage – with the partners, the participants, the landowners and the funder. Early plans and discussions need to be pulled together into realistic project delivery through to completion and evaluation.

Similarly, this project will need wide media coverage to recruit participants and celebrate the work and social posts. It will be the job of the HHPO to supply that content to the communications lead at CPRE Hertfordshire.

The tasks involved are likely to include:

Communications and Project Management

• Develop a database of volunteers, partnerships and stakeholders to recruit for the planting of 2km of hedgerows.
• Develop criteria for planting locations for the hedgerows and engage landowners in identifying / agreeing sections of hedgerow for planting.
• Use these criteria to develop a best practice guide for hedge planting and after-care, to support landowners, community groups and others in maintaining their newly planted hedgerows.
• Communicate with wider supporters/stakeholders such as schools, colleges, parish councils and community groups with an invitation to plant hedgerows.
• Contribute to the production of a detailed publicity programme aimed at publicising the Hedgerow Heroes project, recruiting support, securing additional plants, acknowledging partners and the funder.
• Provide a monthly report for partners, the funder, trustees and colleagues.

Planning and Delivery

• Timetable and map the days where hedgerows will be planted and/or restored.
• Keep to the project budget and record expenditure.
• Secure the equipment from the project budget.
• Ensure plants, equipment materials (i.e. stakes and binders) and risk assessments are all in place for each day.
• Liaise directly with the various parties involved in this project, including professional hedgerow planting trainers instructing courses, volunteers, landowners, community groups and other relevant organisations.
• Oversee and attend each planting day.

Personal profile

Essential:

• You must share our mission to promote, enhance and protect Hertfordshire countryside with a passion for hedgerows.
• You will be an enthusiastic self-starter, keen to work in a small team in a flexible and adaptable way.
• You will need to have good IT skills and some office experience will be an advantage.
• You must be able to self-start tasks and work independently with occasional out of hours working.
• You must have good oral and written communication skills.
• Project Management experience (at least 2-3 years).
• Excellent organisation and communications skills.
• Strong IT skills (using Microsoft Office suite).
• Budgeting skills with experience of managing a budget.
• Strong reporting skills both verbally and in written form.
• You must have a full driving licence.

Desirable:

• Experience working within the conservation/environmental sector would be an advantage either in a paid or unpaid role.
• Understanding of hedgerow planting.
• Marketing and Communications experience in particular writing digital content.
• Experience either working for a charity or volunteering for a charity as this role will require some volunteer management.