Ranger
| Posting date: | 21 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £27,612 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 03 May 2026 |
| Location: | Mid Somerset, Barton Rocks, Winscombe, BS25 1DU |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | National Trust |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | IRC174453 |
Summary
As a Ranger, you’re a champion of nature conservation and the great outdoors, and you’ll play a crucial role in keeping the nation’s beloved countryside and coast in good shape, for wildlife and for people.
Salary: £27,612 per annum/ £14.16 per hour
Hours/ working pattern: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week. You should be willing to work some weekends, bank holidays and evenings.
Contract: 12 months Fixed term contract
Interview date: Thursday 14th May 2026
For more information about this role please contact:- Joel.Bunting@nationaltrust.org.uk
What it's like to work here
Your role can be based at either Fyne Court or the Barton Office in Mid Somerset, with the expectation that you will work regularly across both locations as part of a single, connected ranger team. Our ranger teams across the Mendip Hills, Mid Somerset, Quantock Hills and the Somerset Coast & Levels work closely together, sharing skills, resources and knowledge to care for these special places. You’ll be supported by colleagues from across the Somerset Coast & Countryside portfolio and will play an active role in delivering conservation and engagement work wherever it’s needed across these landscapes.
Mendip Hills
We care for five National Trust sites over 677ha within the Mendip Hills National Landscape and the Mendip Hills NNR. These include species‑rich limestone grasslands, extensive areas of woodland and a long cultural history. Key sites such as Cheddar Gorge, Crook Peak, and King’s Wood provide opportunities for habitat restoration, access work, volunteer engagement and partnership projects.
Poldens, Coast & Levels
Across 262ha, these sites include the coastal headlands of Brean Down and Sand Point, the calcareous grasslands and woodlands of the Polden Ridge, and the iconic Glastonbury Tor. This landscape offers a mix of wildlife‑rich habitats, archaeological and cultural landmarks, and heavily visited access routes. Work here ranges from grassland and woodland conservation to protecting heritage features and supporting safe, enjoyable visitor experiences.
Quantock Hills
The Quantock Hills are part of a National Landscape, designated in 1956 as England’s first for their outstanding beauty, sweeping ridge lines and deep wooded combes. This landscape brings together open heathland, ancient oak woodland and far‑reaching views, creating a compact but exceptionally characterful place to work.
National Trust work here focuses on caring for priority heathland and woodland habitats, supporting species such as nightjar, dormice and woodland bats, and maintaining the well‑used network of paths used by walkers, riders and local communities. The hills also contain important archaeological features, making sensitive heritage protection and access management a key part of your role.
What you'll be doing
Working within a small team of rangers, as the Ranger you will plan and coordinate countryside work across our Somerset sites.
You will play a key role in undertaking day to day engagement and conservation work as well as involvement in project delivery. As such you will be a major contributor to realising our ambitions to improve NT land for nature and people in Somerset.
You will play the key role in maintaining excellent standards of presentation and property maintenance, successfully achieving high conservation standards. You will build and maintain strong professional relationships with colleagues, contractors, tenants and neighbouring land managers. You’ll be helping to protect and care for habitats, wildlife, buildings and machinery. You’ll pass on your knowledge and enthusiasm to encourage others to love this area as much as you do. Whenever and wherever you come across people, you’ll take the time to talk to them and answer their questions, rather than rushing away to the next task.
You’ll make sure that the conservation work and outdoor experiences on the land in your care are of the highest standard. You’ll build relationships in the local community, proudly representing the Trust and letting people know about the work you and the team are doing.
Sites within the Somerset are increasingly popular places to visit and as such a key element of both roles will be as an advocate for the Trusts work within the local community and you will actively seek to engage and develop relationships with a wide range of both new and existing audiences
Who we're looking for
We’d love to hear from you if you’re:
practically experienced in conservation work, to protect and improve habitats and landscapes
happy to talk to all kinds of people about the work you’re doing, and why it matters
hard-working and willing to learn
able to work safely, using risk assessments and following guidelines
experienced in managing land, access and conservation, and working outdoors
able to use machinery and equipment, with relevant certificates
a driver with a full UK driving licence
The package
The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places
Salary: £27,612 per annum/ £14.16 per hour
Hours/ working pattern: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week. You should be willing to work some weekends, bank holidays and evenings.
Contract: 12 months Fixed term contract
Interview date: Thursday 14th May 2026
For more information about this role please contact:- Joel.Bunting@nationaltrust.org.uk
What it's like to work here
Your role can be based at either Fyne Court or the Barton Office in Mid Somerset, with the expectation that you will work regularly across both locations as part of a single, connected ranger team. Our ranger teams across the Mendip Hills, Mid Somerset, Quantock Hills and the Somerset Coast & Levels work closely together, sharing skills, resources and knowledge to care for these special places. You’ll be supported by colleagues from across the Somerset Coast & Countryside portfolio and will play an active role in delivering conservation and engagement work wherever it’s needed across these landscapes.
Mendip Hills
We care for five National Trust sites over 677ha within the Mendip Hills National Landscape and the Mendip Hills NNR. These include species‑rich limestone grasslands, extensive areas of woodland and a long cultural history. Key sites such as Cheddar Gorge, Crook Peak, and King’s Wood provide opportunities for habitat restoration, access work, volunteer engagement and partnership projects.
Poldens, Coast & Levels
Across 262ha, these sites include the coastal headlands of Brean Down and Sand Point, the calcareous grasslands and woodlands of the Polden Ridge, and the iconic Glastonbury Tor. This landscape offers a mix of wildlife‑rich habitats, archaeological and cultural landmarks, and heavily visited access routes. Work here ranges from grassland and woodland conservation to protecting heritage features and supporting safe, enjoyable visitor experiences.
Quantock Hills
The Quantock Hills are part of a National Landscape, designated in 1956 as England’s first for their outstanding beauty, sweeping ridge lines and deep wooded combes. This landscape brings together open heathland, ancient oak woodland and far‑reaching views, creating a compact but exceptionally characterful place to work.
National Trust work here focuses on caring for priority heathland and woodland habitats, supporting species such as nightjar, dormice and woodland bats, and maintaining the well‑used network of paths used by walkers, riders and local communities. The hills also contain important archaeological features, making sensitive heritage protection and access management a key part of your role.
What you'll be doing
Working within a small team of rangers, as the Ranger you will plan and coordinate countryside work across our Somerset sites.
You will play a key role in undertaking day to day engagement and conservation work as well as involvement in project delivery. As such you will be a major contributor to realising our ambitions to improve NT land for nature and people in Somerset.
You will play the key role in maintaining excellent standards of presentation and property maintenance, successfully achieving high conservation standards. You will build and maintain strong professional relationships with colleagues, contractors, tenants and neighbouring land managers. You’ll be helping to protect and care for habitats, wildlife, buildings and machinery. You’ll pass on your knowledge and enthusiasm to encourage others to love this area as much as you do. Whenever and wherever you come across people, you’ll take the time to talk to them and answer their questions, rather than rushing away to the next task.
You’ll make sure that the conservation work and outdoor experiences on the land in your care are of the highest standard. You’ll build relationships in the local community, proudly representing the Trust and letting people know about the work you and the team are doing.
Sites within the Somerset are increasingly popular places to visit and as such a key element of both roles will be as an advocate for the Trusts work within the local community and you will actively seek to engage and develop relationships with a wide range of both new and existing audiences
Who we're looking for
We’d love to hear from you if you’re:
practically experienced in conservation work, to protect and improve habitats and landscapes
happy to talk to all kinds of people about the work you’re doing, and why it matters
hard-working and willing to learn
able to work safely, using risk assessments and following guidelines
experienced in managing land, access and conservation, and working outdoors
able to use machinery and equipment, with relevant certificates
a driver with a full UK driving licence
The package
The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places