Conservation/Ranger type jobs later in life?
Discussion
I've been working in IT for the last couple of decades, and while I've enjoyed it and done pretty well financially, there's a part of me that thinks that rather than finding another job doing the same thing, I'd like to do something practical outdoors.
Has anyone moved into conservation/ranger type jobs later on? How did you get into it, and did it work out as you expected? I'm guessing there's parts of the country where there are more opportunities than in the midlands?
I'm fit and healthy, but around 50, so do need to be vaguely realistic about the physical demands. Have I left it too late?
Has anyone moved into conservation/ranger type jobs later on? How did you get into it, and did it work out as you expected? I'm guessing there's parts of the country where there are more opportunities than in the midlands?
I'm fit and healthy, but around 50, so do need to be vaguely realistic about the physical demands. Have I left it too late?
Alex Z said:
I've been working in IT for the last couple of decades, and while I've enjoyed it and done pretty well financially, there's a part of me that thinks that rather than finding another job doing the same thing, I'd like to do something practical outdoors.
Has anyone moved into conservation/ranger type jobs later on? How did you get into it, and did it work out as you expected? I'm guessing there's parts of the country where there are more opportunities than in the midlands?
I'm fit and healthy, but around 50, so do need to be vaguely realistic about the physical demands. Have I left it too late?
Might such a job be available with the National Trust or English Heritage or the suchlike?Has anyone moved into conservation/ranger type jobs later on? How did you get into it, and did it work out as you expected? I'm guessing there's parts of the country where there are more opportunities than in the midlands?
I'm fit and healthy, but around 50, so do need to be vaguely realistic about the physical demands. Have I left it too late?
Try your county's Wildlife Trust. Obvs National Trust does indeed hold various bits of land to preserve landscapes and some of their properties have extensive parkland.
Canal and Rivers Trust are a bit more mixed when it comes to conservation. Round our away they seem hellbent on destroying the county's most important SAC (special area of conservation, considered internationally important ... typically a collection of linked SSSIs). A bunch of expert ecological studies, recognised by the Trust, have made it abundantly clear that motor-powered canal boats will destroy the habitat, yet they still continue with their plan regardless. Fortunately they appear to have f
ked up their funding application paperwork, so their ambitions may have been torpedoed, but it does make me question their ethics and decision making processes. Hopefully it is an aberration and not the norm.
Canal and Rivers Trust are a bit more mixed when it comes to conservation. Round our away they seem hellbent on destroying the county's most important SAC (special area of conservation, considered internationally important ... typically a collection of linked SSSIs). A bunch of expert ecological studies, recognised by the Trust, have made it abundantly clear that motor-powered canal boats will destroy the habitat, yet they still continue with their plan regardless. Fortunately they appear to have f
ked up their funding application paperwork, so their ambitions may have been torpedoed, but it does make me question their ethics and decision making processes. Hopefully it is an aberration and not the norm.Edited by ATG on Wednesday 23 October 18:13
Alex Z said:
I'm fit and healthy, but around 50, so do need to be vaguely realistic about the physical demands. Have I left it too late?
I'm 57 and volunteer with a group of blokes for an organisation that looks after a large area of natural habitat owned by the local Parish Council.I am very much considered the 'Lad' of the group by some margin.
Certainly not too old.
I really fancied doing this before I started my current job. The NT pay is absolutely shocking, £20k ish full time.
Dartmoor National Park was more like it at £30k. It sounds like a great job to be fair, outdoors using interesting tools. Hard work though. SOmeone I used to go to school with does it, he used to be a bit of a weed but is now absolutely stacked!
Dartmoor National Park was more like it at £30k. It sounds like a great job to be fair, outdoors using interesting tools. Hard work though. SOmeone I used to go to school with does it, he used to be a bit of a weed but is now absolutely stacked!
For a paid ranger/warden type job you will need experience. I moved into a similar role, from the construction industry a few years ago and spent 6 months volunteering for various organisations (treated it as my full time job) and doing online training. You will find a lot of the lowest paid junior roles will be fairly experienced/qualified staff. There are loads of national organisations and local charities that have volunteer roles, both group work and individual work.
I definitely recommend doing some volunteering. Most if not all places will insist you have experience before they will consider you. When I was looking for work it turned out the voluntary work I did was more beneficial than the degree I did at the same time. Plenty of places rely on volunteers for the bulk of the practical stuff. I used to volunteer once or twice a week at a local country park (Rufford) and did everything from tidying up woodland areas to sharpening tools, painting benches, building fences and helping with guided walks.
Places to try would be country parks, National Trust, local Wildlife Trust, RSPB - loads of practical management stuff to do on their sites.
Also look at short courses to do at weekends - things like habitat management type things, hedgelaying, plant ID (useful for identifying things you want and things you don't want in nature reserves etc)
Places to try would be country parks, National Trust, local Wildlife Trust, RSPB - loads of practical management stuff to do on their sites.
Also look at short courses to do at weekends - things like habitat management type things, hedgelaying, plant ID (useful for identifying things you want and things you don't want in nature reserves etc)
Silvanus said:
For a paid ranger/warden type job you will need experience. I moved into a similar role, from the construction industry a few years ago and spent 6 months volunteering for various organisations (treated it as my full time job) and doing online training. You will find a lot of the lowest paid junior roles will be fairly experienced/qualified staff. There are loads of national organisations and local charities that have volunteer roles, both group work and individual work.
This...my partner was a forest ranger for many years (now a therapist). this is not the time to be looking at this field, massive cutbacks, politics coming into job, loss of EU funding...can be a very grim picture. Match that with very low salaries. I think its the NRA in Wales that recently announced closure of a lot of sites, this will also flood the market with experienced rangers (if you can even find a dedicated ranger role now).To end on a high...maybe look at becoming a tree surgeon, can be good money, work for yourself etc. Only trees to deal with, no management!
ozzuk said:
Silvanus said:
For a paid ranger/warden type job you will need experience. I moved into a similar role, from the construction industry a few years ago and spent 6 months volunteering for various organisations (treated it as my full time job) and doing online training. You will find a lot of the lowest paid junior roles will be fairly experienced/qualified staff. There are loads of national organisations and local charities that have volunteer roles, both group work and individual work.
This...my partner was a forest ranger for many years (now a therapist). this is not the time to be looking at this field, massive cutbacks, politics coming into job, loss of EU funding...can be a very grim picture. Match that with very low salaries. I think its the NRA in Wales that recently announced closure of a lot of sites, this will also flood the market with experienced rangers (if you can even find a dedicated ranger role now).To end on a high...maybe look at becoming a tree surgeon, can be good money, work for yourself etc. Only trees to deal with, no management!
With regards to tree surgery, I do a bit of tree work on the side (have done for years). Not sure I would want to retrain and start climbing trees at 50.
Silvanus said:
I'll echo the high experience/low pay. Still jobs out there if you put in the effort to gain experience and qualifications if you don't mind a low salary. The work is very rewarding, one of the main reasons the pay is low.
With regards to tree surgery, I do a bit of tree work on the side (have done for years). Not sure I would want to retrain and start climbing trees at 50.
Can you shed any light on what the day to day role of a NT ranger looks like? With regards to tree surgery, I do a bit of tree work on the side (have done for years). Not sure I would want to retrain and start climbing trees at 50.
There is one available local to me, I worked in industry for 15+ years and then finance for a few years after with a it of admin/hr experience tied in.
Il admit I’m not a natural handy person but I can get a job done and I don’t mind graftingin the open air.
Friend of ours retired early from IT and to keep active is working with the local forestry commission. Not well paid (it doesn’t need to be) and pretty varied, from woodland management to litter picking to stewarding the car park (and apparently seeing people at their worst while doing that)
mikef said:
Friend of ours retired early from IT and to keep active is working with the local forestry commission. Not well paid (it doesn’t need to be) and pretty varied, from woodland management to litter picking to stewarding the car park (and apparently seeing people at their worst while doing that)
Looks like they take apprentices and train them in Cannock. https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/careers-faq...
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