New Forest Apprentice Rangers, where are they now?: Beck and Ben

New Forest Apprentice Rangers, where are they now?: Beck and Ben

Since 2016, the New Forest National Park Authority has supported 14 apprentice rangers alongside partner organisations.

These 12-16 month paid apprenticeships involved diving into a variety of tasks, from carrying out conservation work and wildlife surveys, assisting with public events, and looking after country parks and nature reserves.

They also took on placements at Forestry England, the National Trust, Hampshire County Council, RSPB, the Countryside Education Trust and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, with learning sessions at Sparsholt College and Kingston Maurward College.

As part of Green Careers Week 2024, we checked in with some of our apprentice rangers past and present to see how the opportunity sparked their green career paths.

This is part two of this series, click here for part one and here for part three.

Beck and Ben:

Beck completed her apprenticeship in 2020 and now works as a recreational ranger at Forestry England, in the New Forest. Ben completed his in 2022 and now works in grounds maintenance at Durdledoor Holiday Park, on Lulworth Estate in Dorset.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your time as a New Forest National Park apprentice ranger.

Beck: ‘After I finished university with a degree in Zoology, I spent several years in retail as all the jobs working in nature still seemed so out of reach. I saw the apprenticeship scheme advertised and it sounded like a dream come true but I never thought I’d be offered the position in a thousand years! I took the chance and moved from the Midlands down to Hampshire but so far it’s been the best decision I’ve made. I’ve met so many incredible people and learned so many skills, both in terms of practical countryside management and public engagement.

‘Some of my fondest memories involve using chainsaws and brushcutters for heathland management in beautiful (freezing cold!) winter weather. The satisfaction of getting home after a day of hard, rewarding work is like nothing else.’

Ben: ‘I have always been really passionate about wildlife and conservation work ever since I can remember. I have always wanted a job where I could work outdoors and with nature, when I saw the apprenticeship ranger role with the NPA, I thought this would be a great opportunity.

‘During my apprenticeship, I got to work with a variety of organisations and learnt how each of them maintains and protects different types of habitats and species of wildlife. I got to see many species that I have never seen before, and how to engage with members of the public and get them involved in understanding how important and precious this National Park really is.

‘Until I worked with the NPA, I didn’t know the New Forest had ground nesting birds in the spring. This was definitely a whole new experience for me. For the first time, I had the pleasure of learning how to ring birds with a member of the British Trust for Ornithology, I really enjoyed this experience. 

‘One of my favourite moments was when I went on a youth trip up in the Peak District National Park where I got to meet more younger people who had the same passion for nature as I do. Together, we learnt how to get more younger people involved in restoring nature, conservation work and fighting the climate crisis affecting our national parks etc.’

What’s one thing a ranger can’t do without?

Beck: ‘It’s difficult to choose between having a positive can-do attitude or owning a decent thermos!’

Ben: ‘A passion for nature.’

How did your apprenticeship help you get to where you are now?

Beck: ‘After my apprenticeship, I got a job as a seasonal ranger with Forestry England, where I did one of my placements. I’m now one of their full-time recreation rangers and have the privilege of working in the New Forest every day.

‘The apprenticeship gave me a huge network of connections that are still very valuable to me years down the line. It gave me so many new skills and experiences and my confidence was boosted beyond what I thought was possible. I felt able to apply for jobs that previously seemed way out of my reach and had a strong support network of people helping me along the way.’

Ben: ‘It gave me practical experience and qualifications which help me in my current role in grounds maintenance work with the Lulworth Estate at Durdledoor Holiday Park. Even there, they have created their own small nature reserve which I am helping maintain and give ideas for creativity.’

Why are green careers important to you?

Beck: ‘There’s such a passion for nature and a drive to protect the natural world, it’s so important to harness that energy to make a real, positive difference. We need people who truly care about the environment in as many key roles as possible and to inspire the younger generations to keep striving for a better future for the planet.’

Ben: ‘Because I care about the environment and I don’t like working inside.’

What advice would you give to someone starting out and looking for a green career?

Beck: ‘It can be a tricky sector to get into and it can feel very overwhelming at the start, it certainly did for me! You may get several rejections at the beginning but it’s important not to be dissuaded by this and to treat everything as a learning opportunity. Keep an open mind, ask for feedback, and keep on trying. You never know which opportunity will open the door to that dream job.’

Ben: ‘It’s a very competitive arena to find work, so it’s important to manage your personal expectations. There are a lot of highly qualified applicants chasing a small number of jobs, but persevere and stick at it.’

This is part two of this series, click here for part one and here for part three.

Find out more about the New Forest National Park apprentice rangers programme here.