Hedgerow Heroes Project Assistant
CPRE Avon and Bristol
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, 14 hours per week
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 Country.
We are looking for a Project Assistant for our Hedgerow Heroes Project to help achieve our goal of 10km hedgerow restored by CPRE’s centenary in 2026 by:
- Assisting the Project Lead in delivering practical hedgerow planting and hedgelaying activities with groups of volunteers.
- Helping train and support landowners and local authorities in best practice hedgerow management.
- Engaging the public with the project and communicating the importance of hedgerows in our landscape.
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 report to and work closely with the Project Lead to support practical tasks and ensure targets are met before the Project end. You will lead groups of volunteers in practical conservation activities, ensuring sessions run smoothly and safely. You will help to recruit volunteers by public outreach such as attending volunteer fairs and support with planning future activities.
This role is 2 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 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 the Project Lead to help deliver this exciting new project.
You will have 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 leading teams of people 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 team player, confident working with the Project Lead and a range of stakeholders including volunteers and landowners to meet shared aims.
You will be well organised and confident in handling the planning and delivery of multiple tasks at one time. You will be able to create engagement material for the project such as posters and articles and keep our social media and website up to date.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Experience:
- Experience in practical conservation, ideally tree planting and hedgelaying.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
- Confident in leading groups and addressing the public.
- Competent in using social media to provide project updates.
- Knowledgeable and passionate about hedgerows and the ecological role they play in the countryside and with an understanding of the diverse plants often found in native hedgerows and field margins.
Desirable Experience:
- First Aid qualification
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY and INCLUSION
We welcome applicants who are under-represented in the land and nature based 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 Monday 8th September at midday. Interviews will be in the week beginning 15th September in Bristol.
About CPRE Avon and Bristol
We are CPRE, the countryside charity. We work with communities, businesses and government to ensure that our countryside and green spaces can thrive.
With a local CPRE group in every county, we’re advocating nationwide for the kind of countryside we all aspire to: one with sustainable, healthy communities and available to more people than ever, including those who haven’t benefited before.
We work in the West of England, covering the counties of South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset, and Bath and North East Somerset (BANES).
We are CPRE, the countryside charity. We work with communities, businesses and government to ensure that our countryside and green spaces can thrive.With a local CPRE group in every county, we’re advocating nationwide for the kind of countryside we all aspire to: one with sustainable, healthy communities and available to more people than ever, including those who haven’t benefited before. We work in the West of England, covering the counties of South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset, and Bath and North East Somerset (BANES).
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