Wildlife & community Ranger (Brill Common)

job advert

Brill Parish Council is seeking to recruit an experienced and enthusiastic Ranger to help deliver a new National Lottery Heritage Fund project: Protect Brill Common Forever! Securing the Future of Brill Common’s Wildlife and Commoning Heritage.

Many people who visit Brill Common are unaware of its importance. Besides being a vital chalk grassland habitat, it is a beautiful example of a dwindling historical amenity; common land, keeping alive the ancient practice of commoning.

“What we do not know, we do not love, and what we do not love, we will not save.” Richard Macfarlane 

The role (scroll down for full details)

  • Deliver the aims and objectives of the National Lottery Heritage Fund project by raising awareness and appreciation of our wildlife (flora and fauna) and supporting and developing the natural heritage of Brill Common Local Wildlife Site.

  • Maintain, protect and enhance Brill Common for the benefit of wildlife and people, including undertaking necessary practical work alone or with others.

  • Enable residents and visitors to understand and cherish Brill Common.

Attributes (scroll down for full details)

  • Knowledge and passion for wildlife and nature conservation

  • One or more years’ experience of working with local communities

  • Demonstrable experience of coordinating, leading and training volunteers

  • Willingness to work outside in all weathers

  • An excellent team-builder and player - but also able to work on own initiative

  • Genuine enthusiasm for supporting learning for all

In summary

We are looking for someone who loves working in nature, is friendly, motivated and hardworking - and a brilliant communicator.

This will be an incredibly rewarding post for the right person; an opportunity to make a significant impact on nature recovery and community engagement with the natural world.

Conditions

  • 21 hours per week (flexible working)

  • Based at Brill, HP18 9RT

  • £16,800pa TBC (3 days a week)

Job Description & person specification

21 hours per week (flexible working) : Based at Brill HP18 9RT : £16,800pa TBC (3 days a week)

BACKGROUND 

Brill Common is a 30ha Local Wildlife Site (LWS) and registered common, located in and around the picturesque village of Brill in west Buckinghamshire. The Walks is an adjacent 1.5ha of wood pasture designated as a village green. Additional areas of village green are located within the village. These green spaces are owned by Brill Parish Council for the benefit of residents and visitors to the area for quiet recreation, walking and enjoying nature.

Brill Common is designated as a LWS because of its species-rich grassland, ponds and areas of scrub. The Common is managed under a Countryside Stewardship agreement. Various groups of local volunteers undertake practical habitat management and ecological monitoring. The Brill Village Community Herd group own and tend a small herd of Dexter cattle on the common, for the purpose of conservation grazing. This group recently won the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. The voluntary groups together make up the Brill Common and Village Greens Advisory Group. The group is chaired by a representative from Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) and attended by a parish councillor.

In late 2024, a successful application was made to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a grant to support a five-year project to ‘Protect Brill Common Forever! Securing the Future of Brill Common’s Wildlife and Commoning Heritage’. This grant will fund the employment of a ranger for five years (this post) plus habitat management works and various events on the common.

Most people who visit Brill Common are unaware of its importance. Besides being a vital chalk grassland habitat, it is a beautiful example of a dwindling historical amenity; common land, keeping alive the ancient practice of commoning.

Protect Brill Common Forever! aims to inspire long-term behavioural change in local people to ensure they understand and value our common and are fully committed to protecting and cherishing this special place. The project will do this by raising awareness and understanding of local wildlife and heritage traditions, and supporting, protecting and developing the natural heritage of the Brill Common Local Wildlife Site.

“What we do not know, we do not love, and what we do not love, we will not save” Richard Macfarlane

JOB PURPOSE

  • Deliver the aims and objectives of the National Lottery Heritage Fund project.

  • Maintain, protect and enhance Brill Common for wildlife and people.

  • Enable residents and visitors to understand and cherish Brill Common.

REPORTING LINE

The Ranger will report directly to the parish councillor responsible for Brill Common. 

STAFF MANAGEMENT 

This post currently has no line management responsibilities but the Ranger will be responsible for supervising volunteers.

BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

This post has no budgetary responsibilities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

  • Engage with local communities to help people understand their natural heritage and encourage them to become involved in the maintenance and protection of the common. This will be achieved through community events and more directed learning opportunities. Some of these events will specifically aim to encourage those who find accessing the countryside difficult because of disability or other circumstances.

  • Undertake practical habitat management such as scrub management and grass cutting using hand and power tools, alone or with volunteer groups.

  • Undertake estate maintenance activities as required, including fixing gates and fences to ensure that the site is safe and accessible.

  • Learn from the existing commoner and the other volunteers the skills required to manage livestock and deliver an appropriate grazing regime. 

  • Recruit, train and supervise new volunteers. This training will include checking and handling livestock and practical conservation techniques such as scrub management and grass cutting.

  • Encourage visitors and residents to treat the common with respect.

  • Devise and deliver an ecological monitoring strategy, with support from an ecologist.

  • With input from the community and support of a designer/artist, create accessible interpretation panels reflecting the flora and fauna on Brill Common.

  • Deliver the recommendations provided in an accessibility audit.

  • Supervise contractors undertaking habitat management.

  • Keep records of work undertaken to provide regular reports and inform future funding applications.

  • Adhere to all Parish Council policies, procedures and systems.  

  • Ensure that all health and safety obligations are met in all aspects of the role.

  • Represent the Parish Council in a professional manner and act at all times so as to enhance the council’s reputation.

  • Undertake other appropriate duties as required by line manager. 

Person Specification

  • Understanding of ecological principles, knowledge and passion for wildlife and enthusiasm for nature conservation ESSENTIAL

  • One or more years’ experience of working with local communities ESSENTIAL

  • Demonstrable experience of working with and leading volunteers ESSENTIAL

  • Experience of working in partnerships to deliver common outcomes DESIRABLE

  • Willingness to work flexible hours when the work requires i.e. occasional evenings and weekends and in inclement weather ESSENTIAL

  • Experience of using hand tools to undertake practical habitat management ESSENTIAL

  • An excellent team builder/player, but also able to work on own initiative ESSENTIAL

  • Ability to deal with the public, partner organisations and volunteers in a friendly manner in a variety of situations ESSENTIAL

  • Experience of organising, delivering, and supporting community events and activities ESSENTIAL

  • Experience of developing and delivering training to groups DESIRABLE

  • Excellent oral presentation skills ESSENTIAL

  • Experience of giving talks and presentations DESIRABLE

  • Excellent written presentation skills DESIRABLE

  • IT skills ESSENTIAL

  • First Aid at Work Certificate DESIRABLE

  • A current UK driving licence DESIRABLE

  • Access to a vehicle for business use DESIRABLE

MEASUREs OF SUCCESS  

  • Delivery of the project objectives and fulfilment of project outcomes

  • Accurate reporting of progress and budget spend in accordance with Parish Council and funder requirements 

  • Feedback from participants and evaluation of public-facing activities (specifically: attendees have a better understanding of nature, feel empowered to act for nature and know the actions they can take in the support of nature)

  • Amount of supervision required to achieve the above

To apply

Email your CV with a covering letter explaining why you are suitable for the role to Bobs Damerell, Parish Clerk. Please put ‘Application for Ranger Role’ in the subject line.

Deadline for applications Wednesday March 12th 2025

Interviews Monday March 24th 2025

For an informal conversation about this job, please email Cllr Emi Slater to arrange a telephone call.