Countryside Conservation Officer
Countryside conservation officers are environmental specialists responsible for advising on issues concerned with protecting and conserving the countryside. They aim to encourage visitors to the countryside, promote awareness of the natural environment, and protect the natural habitat of plants and animals. The work is wide ranging, from helping to develop policy for the countryside and seeing that decisions are carried out to such practical issues as making sure that footpaths are kept clear of vegetation.
Countryside conservation officers may have to determine whether a piece of woodland should be protected to sustain wildlife or developed in order to attract visitors, decide where footpaths should lead, enforce regulations for the protection of the countryside, or attend public enquiries into any changes that may affect the environment.
Entry level
A degree or higher national certificate/diploma (HNC/D) is normally required for entry, although competition for jobs is so fierce that you might also need a postgraduate diploma or higher degree.
Relevant degree subjects include rural resource management, countryside management, rural environmental management, conservation and environment or environment studies. Other appropriate degrees would include geography, life sciences, ecology, environmental science and geology. Entry requirements for degrees are usually at least two A levels/three H grades, or equivalent, and five GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3). HND courses usually require one A level/two H grades.
Almost all courses would require you to show evidence of practical or voluntary work as evidence of your interest in the subject.
Making the grade
Most training takes place on the job. Some employers offer external technical training at local colleges or training centres, leading to vocational qualifications.
Lantra - the Sector Skills Council for the Environmental and Land-based Sector - and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers are among organisations that offer training courses.
You may have an increased chance of promotion to a senior post if you have a higher degree in a biological, environmental or land-based subject. There is a clear career path in local and national government leading to supervisory and management posts. Promotion prospects in other organisations may be more limited and it may be necessary to move to a different employer in order to progress.
Personal qualities
As a countryside conservation officer, you would need excellent communication skills. Your work may involve dealing with landowners, local authority officers and members of the public – at least some of whom may be opposed to your ideas – so confidence, tact and diplomacy would need to be added to negotiating and influencing skills. You would also need the ability to make technical and scientific information clear to a non-expert audience.
You must have an unswerving commitment to the countryside and to conservation issues, allied to a practical aptitude for using hand tools and equipment, and a good level of physical fitness.
Looking ahead
Most work is with local government, national agencies – such as the Countryside Agency, the Countryside Council for Wales, English Nature and Scottish Natural Heritage, voluntary organisations, environmental bodies, and charitable trusts – such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Woodland Trust and the National Trust.
This is a popular area of work and competition for jobs is very fierce. Many organisations expect new entrants to have undertaken relevant voluntary work, such as that offered by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and the National Trust working holidays, where tuition in a wide range of skills is provided alongside experience in practical conservation tasks.
Much of the physical work associated with managing the countryside is seasonal and temporary jobs are therefore also available.
Alternative suggestions
Other possibilities might include biologist, cartographer, countryside ranger, forest manager, geologist, landscape architect, marine biologist, microbiologist, rural practice surveyor, town planner or zoologist.
Take-home pay
As a countryside conservation officer working for a government agency, you would be likely to have a starting salary of around £20,000, rising to around £26,000. Senior positions may command salaries of around £34,000. Local government salaries are likely to be similar but charitable organisations often start at lower levels, perhaps around £13,000.
Effects
The normal working week is 37 to 40 hours, but you may have to work whatever hours are needed, including some nights and weekends. Part-time and seasonal work is common in some of the more practical countryside management posts.
Sources of information
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers: www.btcv.org
Countryside Council for Wales: www.ccw.gov.uk
Countryside Management Association: www.countrysidemanagement.org.uk
English Nature: www.english-nature.org.uk
Environment Council: www.the-environment-council.org.uk
Lantra: www.lantra.co.uk
Local government: www.lgcareers.com and www.lgjobs.com
National Trust: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Natural England: www.naturalengland.org.uk
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds: www.rspb.org.uk
Scottish Natural Heritage: www.snh.org.uk
Woodland Trust: www.woodland-trust.org.uk
CRCI: HB
