Ranger wage

**Lover of the forest** · 09-02-2006, 16:43

Does anyone know the wage a good ranger gets as i'm interested in becoming one

Dan

**bambodoggy** · 09-02-2006, 16:47

If you hang about until Fallow Way logs on I'm sure he'll be able to tell you for sure as he's just started his new job as a Ranger.

From what he's said in the past it's pretty hard to become one and then not very well paid when you are...but you get the bonus of working outside and in the country

Iirc it's about £14K to £20K depending on age, qualifications and experience.

Hope that helps but as I say Fallow will be able to tell you more.

Bam.

**silvergirl** · 09-02-2006, 16:53

Hi.
I've worked as a ranger on and off for the last 14 years. I started at 11k and my latest job is about 17k a year. I know SWT pay for seasonal rangers is about 13k and full time 16k.

Local authorities often pay more but for every job you get a couple of hundred applicants.

It is however the kind of job that, somedays you can't belive your lucky enough to get paid at all. There have often been times I do it for nothing (and have)

**Lover of the forest** · 09-02-2006, 16:57

Thanks guys. Just interested as i'm leaving London for North Wales anyone know what it's like up there. need info!!

**Daniel** · 09-02-2006, 17:40

I was just looking into this today funnily enough, and cam across this website. Didn't get a chance to read it all but the gist seemed useful.

You might find it of some use??

http://www.naturenet.net/people/getajob.html

**Fenlander** · 09-02-2006, 17:51

This site will give you a good idea and you can see vaccancies curremtly available

http://www.environmentjob.co.uk/inde...tor&sector=con

**Lover of the forest** · 09-02-2006, 18:11

Thanks for the links they were very helpful.

**Fallow Way** · 09-02-2006, 18:21

i`ve started on just over 16k, but it would be difficult to find that a great deal of other places mind. its worth spending time looking through all the mist for those few really good chances.

**Lover of the forest** · 09-02-2006, 18:37

Do you regret becoming one in thinking there are better payed jobs out there and you could be missing out?

**Fallow Way** · 09-02-2006, 18:40

not at all, low (and lets face it, its hardly the lowest in the world as equally not being the highest), its about being able to work in , for and with the most important thing i can think of, nature.

**Lover of the forest** · 09-02-2006, 18:57

Can you give me examples of any expierences that you can remember distinctly?

**Fallow Way** · 09-02-2006, 19:14

OK, some examples from the last few days,

going out to feed and check on the 29 Manx sheep, 2 Alpacas and 9 Longhorn cattle who are currently in their winter grazing fields, awaiting March when they get put back on the heathland. Polo (the Manx who thinks he’s in charge ...including the Rangers) trots up as usual for a fuss and a feed, giving me a jab in the bum with is horns when I’m not looking as he wants to be fussed more:-) Then as I’m scattering the hay for the Longhorns, Mistletoe our newest member comes bounding across the field and into the hay pile with glee, kicking it everywhere and looking like a truly playful puppy.

Teaching our regular group of children about nature. This is always a joy. I taught them a little about stalking and had them sneak up on one of the other rangers.

Patrolling the hill fort area. Seeing the earthworks that have been so far discovered (and having conversations earlier that day with the Collections Officer about the Bronze Age axe heads) and appreciating their choice of site as i scan over a few hundred square miles of the valleys below.

Also just loving the wildlife i see on a patrol.

Habitat management in terms of restoring acid grassland and heathland through felling/seed collection and transplantation of heather (ling and cross leaved) and gorse.

that was all just yesterday actually :-)

**Lover of the forest** · 09-02-2006, 19:22

Seems you really love your job. I've started my course on it and i'm hoping to start in around 6 months when i've hopefully sold my house. Thanks for your help really appreciate it.

**Siecroz** · 09-02-2006, 20:00

North Wales... ahh... Gods Country.

Check out Snowdonia National Parks website.. and the Forrestry Commission. I thought about going for that line of work a while back. I have one thing but not the other.

I have no quallies but being a native I speak fluent Welsh. Not sure about the Forestry comission but SNP had Welsh as a job requirement due to the nature of the environment in which you work and the people you are required to talk too as part of the job (local Farmers etc)

Check it out... and I wish you every luck... its a nobel job

**CLEM** · 09-02-2006, 22:40

Originally Posted by Fallow Way

OK, some examples from the last few days,

going out to feed and check on the 29 Manx sheep, 2 Alpacas and 9 Longhorn cattle who are currently in their winter grazing fields, awaiting March when they get put back on the heathland. Polo (the Manx who thinks he’s in charge ...including the Rangers) trots up as usual for a fuss and a feed, giving me a jab in the bum with is horns when I’m not looking as he wants to be fussed more:-) Then as I’m scattering the hay for the Longhorns, Mistletoe our newest member comes bounding across the field and into the hay pile with glee, kicking it everywhere and looking like a truly playful puppy.

Teaching our regular group of children about nature. This is always a joy. I taught them a little about stalking and had them sneak up on one of the other rangers.

Patrolling the hill fort area. Seeing the earthworks that have been so far discovered (and having conversations earlier that day with the Collections Officer about the Bronze Age axe heads) and appreciating their choice of site as i scan over a few hundred square miles of the valleys below.

Also just loving the wildlife i see on a patrol.

Habitat management in terms of restoring acid grassland and heathland through felling/seed collection and transplantation of heather (ling and cross leaved) and gorse.

that was all just yesterday actually :-)

Wow,what a great job,you must love it.Although there must be down sides like every job but the upside sure as heck outway the down.Happy for you mate

**Daniel** · 09-02-2006, 23:00

That's the stuff I daydream about when stuck in front of my computer at work.... I'd love to get into that line of work but unfortunately it's just not financially viable.

I hate money!!

**CLEM** · 09-02-2006, 23:12

Originally Posted by Daniel

That's the stuff I daydream about when stuck in front of my computer at work.... I'd love to get into that line of work but unfortunately it's just not financially viable.

I hate money!!

It would be a massive raise for me!

**Siecroz** · 10-02-2006, 03:14

Originally Posted by CLEM

It would be a massive raise for me!

Its not the raise thats the problem... its paying for the qualifications

**rcorbett10** · 10-02-2006, 09:52

has anyone got any links or contacts for ranger qualifications?

rob corbett

**Lover of the forest** · 10-02-2006, 10:50

What a job seems like a dream come true. Hope i get those sort of thrills each day.

**Salix** · 10-02-2006, 11:44

Hi guys,
Just thought ide give you the benefit of my experience. I have been a Ranger for 10 years now, moving through the ranks to become Senior Ranger and now Countryside Officer. It's a great job, but varies drastically throughout the country from LA to LA and organisations. Some Rangers jobs are basically Parkies, patrolling urban parks and defending against ASBO attack. Then there are the jobs such as Fallows, which sound very traditional.My own Rangers do a massive variety of things, Access, Education, Conservation, Maintenance, Forestry, Arboriculture, PR and Law enforcement. The list is endless and every day is different. My Rangers start on a salary of £14,500, rising through the scale to around £16,950. Unfortunately it's the powers that be who govern our wages, if it was up to me, ide be paying my Rangers at least £20,000.
As for qualifications, there are lots out there, Countryside Management degrees are popular, but any earth science will do, I find that personally I look for practical skills, knowledge of the real world, and an ability to mix and get on with people because as a Ranger thats a large portion of the job.
Vacancies are few and far between, and highly fought after (again this pegs the salaries down!), added to the prospect of having to relocate (House Prices

), all add to the problems. My best advice would be to gain some experience as a volunteer with a local service, this will give you a true insight into the job, and give you valuable experience to add to your qualifications.
For jobs and other related gossip try

www.countrysidejobslink.com or .co.uk

An if you want any more info or advice ide be happy to help, just PM me.

Best of luck

Mark

**Wolfie** · 10-02-2006, 16:12

Im lucky to have been working in conseravtion now for the last 10 years now.

Pay varies around the country but I've seen jobs recently going from £10K - £20K, if you're lucky, and with the right qualifications and experience £20K - £30K max. Staring wages would be around the £12K - £14K area.

Bear in mind however that people who work in conservation certainly don't do it for the money. Also the more money you earn in conservation the more time you spend behind a desk away from doing the things you want to.

The hardest thing is getting your first job.To get there I did an Ecology degree at Lancaster University and then 3 years voluntary work in with Wildlife Trusts, Local Authorities, in fact anyone I could get experience with. Once you have a job in Conservation it is much easier to move around. One good thing is that this does tend to sort out the people who are committed to conservation and are not doing it on a whim or because they have a romantic idea of what a Ranger does.
For every day like the one that Fallow Way describes you'll probably have two picking up litter / dog s**t , repairing vandalism, dealing with complaints / paper work, and you'll probably also have to work whilst the football / rugby / life in general is on at the weekends.

Qualifications you may want to get for Ranger work include a First Aid Certificate, Chainsaw certificate, Herbicide application training, Summer Mountain Leader Qualification, 4x4 / Quad bike training

There are lots of different jobs around. The title Ranger tends to get used for a variety of jobs from teachers / parks patrol / toilet cleaners! Consider other jobs to do with conservation as they may indirectly give you your first step towards being a Ranger

If you're moving to N Wales I would certainly consider learning Welsh. I would be surprised if you could find a job there without it.

If all this hasn't put you off have a look at the Countryside Jobs Service.

www.countryside-jobs.com

They tend to have all the countryside / conservation jobs advertised.

You may also want to take a look at the Countryside Management Association.

www.countrysidemanagement.org.uk

Good luck!

**Lover of the forest** · 10-02-2006, 17:43

Thanks for all the info guys really helpful. It's really made me think about all the difficulties to becoming a great ranger but it's made me hungrier to go out and become one.Thanks again.

Dan

**Fallow Way** · 10-02-2006, 19:17

for half a day once every four weeks its my turn to clean the toilets, empty the bins and clean up dog poopy.

We also do a great deal of community and education based work.

**Laurence Dell** · 10-02-2006, 20:40

Lover of the forest

I can suggest some possible colleges close enough to you to be possibles

Capel Manor in Enfield may be closest depending on what part of London you are in
http://www.capel.ac.uk/

Merrist Wood near Guildford do countryside courses that are relevant
http://www.guildford.ac.uk/mwSite/mw_index.aspx

and Sparsholt College Hampshire near Winchester is where I went

http://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/ and this is the course that I did http://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/schwww/ga...life/ndgwm.htm

Laurence

**Fallow Way** · 10-02-2006, 21:25

another option is to get your foot in the door on the lowest rung and work your way up to telling other people what to do:-) Thats what i did, not the say there is anything against academic courses, i just prefer the traditional way of thinking, ie doing the job for a few years before you start telling people how to do it :-)

I havent a academic qualification to my name, I just did it through gaining experience so if a course if not an option, there is also another route so dont give up.

**Fenlander** · 10-02-2006, 23:16

Originally Posted by Fallow Way

I havent a academic qualification to my name, I just did it through gaining experience so if a course if not an option, there is also another route so dont give up.

Same here

**monkey_pork** · 11-02-2006, 10:09

I'd support volunteering 100%.

You'll very often find that will open up funding routes to get basic training, and you may well be able to use the volunteering hours towards vocational qualifications, such as an NVQ.

You 'll get a feel for the way it all hangs together, you'll pick up contacts, plus it'll get you known ...

Volunteering played a big part in me getting my current post..

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