Job profile for a ranger
The National Park Authorities get hundreds of people asking about ranger positions each year. The appeal of working outdoors surrounded by wonderful landscapes means that ranger vacancies have lots of applicants.
What do rangers do?
Rangers work with other staff and volunteers to maintain footpaths, gates, stiles and bridges.
Rangers are the eyes and ears of the National Park Authority as they are out and about in the National Park most of the time. They provide a contact between visitors, local people and the National Park Authority.
Rangers have lots of local knowledge about what to see, where to go and the wildlife and history of the National Park. Answering questions from the public and dealing with local communities are an important part of a ranger’s job.
National Park rangers look out for any potential problems, like stiles or signposts that need repair and then work with staff and volunteers to fix them. They also work to reduce issues between visitors and local people. If walkers stray off a footpath onto farmland it can disrupt livestock, a ranger can help by putting up a signed route.
Many rangers take school groups out into the National Park and work with volunteers to run events for the public. They also work with other teams in the National Park Authority, like events, education, planners, field and property workers, and communication teams.
For a taste of a day in the life of a ranger, see the ranger page at the Peak District National Park or hear a podcast of a ranger diary from the South Downs.
What qualifications and experience do you need?
A degree in conservation, environmental management or similar subject will show you have the right knowledge and practical skills. You might want to read the tips on becoming a Lake District ranger page. Experience is also essential, try volunteering with an environmental organisation or joining the National Parks volunteer schemes. The volunteers page has details about how to volunteer with the National Parks and with other environmental organisations like the National Trust and the Wildlife Trusts.
As well as knowledge and practical skills rangers need to be good communicators and enjoy working with volunteers and the public. You also need to like being outdoors, all year round in all weathers, not just when it’s sunny!
Further information
National Parks
- Broads Authority - volunteering
- Brecon Beacons National Park - volunteering
- Dartmoor National Park - volunteering
- Exmoor National Park - volunteering
- Lake District National Park - volunteering
- Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park - volunteering
- New Forest National Park - volunteering
- Northumberland National Park - volunteering
- Northumberland National Park - Heritage At Risk volunteers
- North York Moors National Park - volunteering
- Peak District National Park - training as a volunteer ranger
- Peak District National Park - join the conservation volunteers
- Pembrokeshire Coast National Park - how to volunteer
- Snowdonia National Park - join the Snowdonia Society and volunteer
- Snowdonia National Park - join the conservation volunteers
- South Downs National Park - volunteering
- Yorkshire Dales National Park - volunteering
Other organisations
- The Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) - practical conservation volunteering and conservation holidays
- John Muir Award - environmental award scheme
- MuckIn4Life - promoting volunteering across England (good ideas for families and kids)
- National Trust - volunteering
- RSPB - volunteering
- The Wildlife Trusts - volunteering
- www.do-it.org.uk - UK database of volunteering in England, Scotland and Wales
