Immersive Ranger Volunteer

Gain practical experience of protecting amazing landscapes, species and habitats in the Peak District. Over a period of up to 12 months, you’ll get involved in a broad range of tasks and activities, learn new skills, working alongside and learning from an experienced team of National Trust rangers. 

What's involved? 

As part of our Land, Outdoor and Nature vision you will have the opportunity to help the team carry out a diverse range of practical activities, making a real difference to the High Peak and gaining new skills and experience through the seasons.

• Assisting the Rangers in practical countryside management tasks such as path and boundary maintenance, invasive species control, habitat restoration, forestry work, biodiversity monitoring, and general maintenance
• Getting outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and habitats, learning about the landscape as you go
• Undertaking wildlife monitoring across the property to help us quantify the success of our land management strategy
• Assisting in the organisation, development and delivery of visitor experiences across the property, focusing on the outdoor experience
• Welcoming visitors and maintaining good working relations with tenants, partnerships, local communities and neighbours
• To help you develop within this voluntary role you will be guided and mentored by the High Peak Ranger Team. There will also be opportunities to volunteer and train across the Peak District Property
• Training will be provided to enable you to carry out your role safely and confidently. Opportunities for further personal or professional development will be discussed during regular catch-ups.

This role will suit you if you are...

• Passionate about nature and the outdoors
• Looking to gain experience relevant to working in the countryside management/nature conservation sectors
• Looking for a detailed and immersive experience of the National Trust or the sector
• Interested in understanding how we care for our places at National Trust over time
• Ideally aged 18-25 years - we would love to offer this opportunity to a young person looking to gain experience in the sector

Due to the remote location of our ranger bases, please consider how you will get to your place of volunteering (Little Hayfield) before applying - own transport will be an advantage, and once trained, there may be opportunities to drive NT vehicles in which case a full driving licence will be required

• Interested in volunteering for up to 12 months
• Available to volunteer up to 30 hours a week – days to be agreed at interview
• Available to start from September/October onwards, exact date flexible.

By getting involved you could

• Volunteer to look after important landscapes for future generations.
• Gain experience with an internationally renowned conservation charity.
• Volunteer amongst acres of pristine, nationally-important land comprising a variety of habitats including SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) blanket bogs and moorland, clough woodlands and farmland.
• Develop a variety of practical estate and habitat management skills, likely to include moorland restoration management, footpath maintenance, forestry works, fencing, and invasive plant species control, amongst others.
• Support us to deliver important wildlife survey work and visitor engagement activities.
• Volunteer alongside dedicated and experienced staff and volunteers.
• Help the Peak District Team deliver conservation gains for wildlife.

We want all our volunteers to feel welcome and to have an equally positive experience when volunteering with us. So, volunteers will:

• Be provided with the necessary induction, training, equipment and reasonable adjustments to do this role well and safely
• Be offered expenses to cover agreed travel costs between home and place of volunteering
• There will be the opportunity to work with Ranger teams across other National trust properties within the Peak District and further afield