Volunteer countryside rangers support the countryside team throughout the year with practical habitat management, site maintenance and biological surveying.
A countryside ranger usually leads the work, but it can also be self-led.
We run a Friday volunteer group who may work at Fairmile Bottom (near Arundel), Burton Mill Pond (near Petworth) and on the Downs Link (between Rudgwick and Shoreham).
Two volunteer groups work at Buchan Country Park, near Crawley, on a regular basis, the weekly Thursday group and 'Get Grubby' who meet on the first Sunday of the month.
Opportunities to work individually with a countryside ranger at other points in the week may be available subject to business needs.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer countryside ranger, please email countryside@westsussex.gov.uk and tell us a bit about where you live, where in the county that you would like to volunteer and why you are interested in volunteering with us. Please note that you may need your own transport and be prepared to drive for the Friday volunteer group.
Due to our Safeguarding Policy, we are unable to recruit volunteers under the age of eighteen, unless they are accompanied on each task by a responsible adult.
Please note that we cannot always guarantee a volunteer space is available because there is a limit to the size of each group that we work with.
Volunteer with us to complement your college course
Practice and develop new skills in conjunction with your course or qualification, such as an HND or NVQ qualification at a local agricultural college.
You can develop your practical skills to complement the theory, and gain valuable work experience to help you in future employment in the process.
If you are a student under 18, we are able to work with your college and their safeguarding policy to enable a placement.