Volunteer Ranger (Staunton Country Park)

This role works alongside other volunteers and Staunton Country Park Ranger staff to carry out a wide variety of conservation and estate management tasks. This is an exciting time for Staunton Country Park, which has recently been awarded a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to restore Staunton’s Regency heritage, enhance community facilities for park visitors and to increase our volunteer offer. 

The Park has different types of habitats including woodland, grassland, streams and a lake, so there are always plenty of conservation tasks to do.

Many of the tasks are dependent on the seasons. Throughout a typical year the conservation tasks could include:

Coppicing, woodland management, dead hedge laying and scrub management.

Installing and maintaining gates, fences, signs and benches.

Keeping footpaths accessible by clearing overgrowing vegetation and maintaining the surface.

Wildlife surveying and monitoring.

Keeping the park tidy and litter free.

Skills

No specific skills are needed for this role, although, as most of the work is based outdoors, an interest in the countryside and a willingness to work in all weathers is desirable. A basic level of fitness is advisable, as conservation tasks require physical activity on uneven terrain. Volunteers must have a willingness to follow instructions and comply with our health and safety procedures. The role will be working alongside other volunteers and with occasional contact with members of the public, so good interpersonal skills would also be helpful.

Experience and training:

No previous experience needed, as volunteers will be given demonstrations and support for any tasks or hand tools they are not familiar with by the Countryside Rangers or an experienced volunteer.