Hedgerow Heroes Project Lead

Location: Home based, with shared office space in Bristol and regular travel within the West of England.
Terms: Fixed term 7-month contract. Part-time 28 hours per week (0.8FTE)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Hedgerows are vital countryside habitats, but loss of connectivity and poor management techniques threaten their survival. This is an exciting time to join our team as we begin the fourth year of our ever-growing ‘Hedgerow Heroes’ Project. This rewarding role involves working with local communities and volunteers to achieve physical restoration of hedgerows across the West of England.

We are looking for a leader for our Hedgerow Heroes (HH) Project to achieve our goal of 10km hedgerow restored by CPRE’s Centenary in 2026 by:

1. Leading the HH Project with responsibility for the overall management including managing the activities of a Project Assistant. This will be in close liaison with the CPRE Avon and Bristol Chair and Charity Coordinator to meet targets and to keep on budget.
2. Working with a professional hedgelayer to organise and lead practical hedgerow planting and activities with groups of volunteers.
3. Training and supporting landowners and local authorities in best practice hedgerow management.
4. Engaging the public with the HH Project and communicating the importance of hedgerows in our landscape through social media and CPRE Avon and Bristol Newsletter.
5. Looking for future funding opportunities for CPRE Avon and Bristol to engage in this area after the end of the Project period.

THE ROLE

The bulk of the practical work of this Project will take place over winter 2025-2026, where you will recruit volunteers to plant and restore hedgerows across selected sites in South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and BANES (Bath and North-East Somerset).

You will liaise with partners and contractors to ensure events, materials and services are delivered efficiently. You will manage the Project budget, in consultation with the Treasurer and Charity Co-ordinator and write up reports and cost reports for the funders.

One day a week of this role is dedicated to raising funds for CPRE Avon and Bristol to help cover core costs and in seeking additional funding to enhance not only ‘Hedgerow Heroes’, but to bring in other funds to enable CPRE Avon and Bristol to continue working with under-represented individuals and on projects allied to nature’s recovery in the West Country. This work can be supported by an expert trusts and foundations consultant.

You will line manage and work closely with the Hedgerow Heroes Project Assistant to deliver practical tasks and ensure targets are met before the Project end. You will report back to CPRE National Office, when required, and attend steering group meetings with other CPRE groups taking part in the Hedgerow Heroes Project. You will keep the budget up to date and liaise with the Treasurer to ensure that the budget is used efficiently and effectively with all costs accounted for.

This role is 4 day a week post, 7-month contract (October 2025- May 2026), with potential for extension depending on funding. The role is home-based with regular travel to deliver practical work. Project related expenses will be paid upon submission of expense form with receipts. The team at CPRE Avon and Bristol also meet up in person, approximately once a fortnight to share information and monitor the project. Meetings are likely to be with the Chair and Charity Coordinator and will be in Bristol-based meeting rooms.

ABOUT YOU

We are looking for an energetic, skilled and passionate person, who cares about the countryside and will join our small team to lead this exciting new Project.

You will have with a strong understanding of habitat restoration and conservation management practices, specifically around hedgerows and their importance in building biodiversity, mitigating for climate change, and providing abundant food, shelter and nesting sites for wildlife.

You will be confident engaging and leading teams of staff and volunteers to complete hedgerow maintenance tasks. You will be happy to work outdoors throughout winter, and competent working with and maintaining hand tools.

You will be a natural communicator, well organised and confident in handling the planning and delivery of multiple tasks at one time. You will be working with a range of stakeholders including volunteers, Council Officers, Farming Cluster groups and National Landscapes teams to meet shared aims. This will involve partnership working to deliver public events.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Experience:

• Leading projects, ideally in practical conservation such as tree planting and hedgelaying.
• Working with and managing volunteers and stakeholders, such as farmers.
• Confident in leading groups and addressing the public.
• Knowledgeable and passionate about hedgerows and the ecological role they play in the countryside, together with an understanding of the diverse plants often found in native hedgerows and field margins.
• Managing project budgets.
• Able to evaluate and write up a Risk Assessments and consider Health and Safety as a priority.
• Monitoring and evaluation and reporting to funders.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Desirable Experience:

• Conducting hedgerow surveys and writing management plans.
• First Aid qualification.
• Fundraising for Charities.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY and INCLUSION

We welcome applicants who are under-represented in the land and nature workforce because of race, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality. We encourage collaborative decision making and empower staff and volunteers to contribute to a positive working environment. Please refer to our CPRE statement from our website:

https://www.cpre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Diversity-statement.pdf 

The deadline for applications is midday 8th September with in person interviews in the week beginning 15th September.