Apprenticeship training course

Countryside ranger (level 4)

Provide daily management, maintenance, conservation and protection of the natural environment and inspire people about the natural environment.

• Qualification level: 4 ; Equivalent to higher national certificate (HNC).
• Typical duration: 26 months
• Apprenticeship category: Agriculture, environmental and animal care
• Maximum funding: £9,000 ; Maximum amount government will fund ; for apprenticeship training.
• Also known as:
  • Community ranger
  • Countryside ranger
  • Estate ranger
  • Estate supervisor
  • Park ranger
  • Ranger
  • Recreation ranger
  • Reserve or countryside warden
• Skills:
  Skills an apprentice will learn

  • Assess, prioritise, maintain and evaluate a safe working environment following relevant legislation, work place policies and procedures including identifying hazards, assessing risk and minimising risk and implementing and complying with control measures.
  • Comply with and ensure others comply with legal requirements, industry regulations and standards and organisational policies, processes, procedures and professional codes and ethics.
  • Comply with environmental best practices and procedures and follow sustainability and waste management practices.
  • Organise and prioritise environmental and land management work activities such as habitat management, work associated with public access or assets such as bridges and scheduled monuments. This includes assessing tasks, identifying and allocating the required resources to deliver the task effectively and review completed work.
  • Manage a range of habitats and species using a variety of specialist techniques and resources which takes account of the local area, habitat, species of flora and fauna and levels of associated protection such as felling, pruning, planting, cutting, mowing, coppicing, thinning, spraying and uprooting, livestock grazing and controlling vegetation and invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed.
  • Produce short or medium term work, site, habitat action or small scale project plans for the delegated areas of responsibility for and in line with organisations requirement and based on sound knowledge of ecological principles and in line with relevant legislation.
  • Delegate tasks to volunteers/ team members.
  • Deliver work and projects on time, to a high standard, using allocated resources, to planned budget, method and quality and represent value for money e.g. environmental and land management, public engagement, interpretation or survey work.
  • Manage workload, taking into account competing and changes in priorities and demonstrate problem solving ability.
  • Communicate with the correct authorities and seek advice on land, nature conservation and asset management, such as Historic England for Scheduled Monuments or ecologists.
  • Organise and prioritise asset and infrastructure construction, maintenance and management works including any surveys and alternative plans.
  • Construct, maintain and manage a range of boundaries, public access routes, infrastructure and assets using a variety of specialist techniques, tools, equipment and resources.
  • Correctly identify the unique range of native and invasive species and habitats in the geographical area.
  • Survey, analyse, communicate and evaluate results for habitats, species and countryside assets.
  • Select and use a range of work-based tools, machinery and equipment e.g. 4WD vehicles, trailers, winches and other powered and non-powered tools such as chainsaws, brushcutters, hedge trimmer and hand tools, mobile devices and other technology such as GPS, tablets and cameras.
  • Instruct others how to use tools and machinery correctly and safely and ensure operator competence.
  • Complete records associated with tools and machinery e.g. maintenance, use, vibration and noise levels etc.
  • Engage and communicate clearly and effectively with stakeholders including the public, landowners, tenants, contractors and colleagues.
  • Supervise, motivate and work alongside others while undertaking habitat management, construction and maintenance of boundaries, access routes and associated countryside assets.
  • Present information to the public and relevant stakeholders on planned works, site designation, its species and habitats and techniques used to manage an area.
  • Deal with emergencies and incidents as appropriate within the limits of their responsibility, authority and level of training.
  • Design, produce and evaluate various types of environmental interpretation and information provision for a range of audiences.
  • Speak in public and engage with a wide range of audiences such as stakeholders e.g. tenants, local community or interest groups, volunteers, educational and corporate groups and members of the public on a range of topics. For example, planned or ongoing habitat or access management, local flora and fauna or history and archaeology of an area.
  • Recognise strengths and areas for development, creates SMART objectives in line with organisational objectives, participates in development opportunities and regularly seeks feedback.
  • Make decisions based on the organisations principles and relevant and accurate information.

Full information on Countryside ranger (level 4) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

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