Young Rangers Opportunity, Quantock Hills 

The Young Rangers scheme is an exciting opportunity for young people aged 12-16 based around the Quantock Hills, to provide opportunities to spend time in the Quantocks every month; learning new practical skills like walling, hedge laying, fencing, and tree planting but perhaps more importantly learning to work as a team, experiencing job satisfaction, and building a solid set of achievements that will boost their prospects whatever life and career path they may later choose. 

Tasks and Activities 

The Young Rangers will undertake a variety of practical conservation and countryside skills in a variety of locations all over the Quantock Hills AONB. These may include:  

• Drystone walling 
• Hedeglaying 
• Tree planting 
• Woodland and grassland management 

The group will also learn other important skills such as first aid, map reading and navigation; wildlife surveying and identification and bushcraft.   

Opportunities and Support Offered 

• There will be the opportunity to gain Level 1 or 2 accredited modules in land based skills (not compulsory)  
• For the older members of the group there will be the opportunity to progress to formal apprenticeships in countryside management  
• The sessions will be run by experienced youth leaders, with experience of working in the conservation sector  

• There will be the opportunity to work with professionals who work in the conservation and land management sector on the Quantock Hills and across Somerset 
• Two night residential and the opportunity to meet other Young Rangers from different areas 
• The programme is fully funded including clothing, equipment and residential trip 

Is this right for you?  

You don’t need any special skills or experience to become a Young Ranger, just an enjoyment or interest in the outdoors and the ability to get stuck in. We would like you to commit to a minimum of 6 months and hopefully stay with the project for longer.  

We don’t have many spaces and it is very special project, so there will be a probationary period of 3 months where we can assess if the opportunity is the right fit for you and the team.  

Location 

We will be working at countryside sites all over the Quantocks but will use Kilve Outdoors Centre as our base.  

Time Commitment 

Young Rangers will meet on a Saturday once a month, 10-4. There will also be a two night residential trip during the year.  

There will be two groups of Young Rangers, one from Bridgwater and one from Taunton who will meet up on different Saturdays in the month.  

Transport  

Transport will be provided from a central pickup point in Taunton and Bridgwater or you can be dropped off where we are working.  

If you are struggling with transport, please get in touch and we will see if we can help.  

Accessibility 

If you have any accessibility requirements, please let us know so we can plan to accommodate for you.   

How to get involved

Please email Verity - [email protected]