Countryside Ranger - Lock Up in Ashford, Surrey

Lampton Greenspace is responsible for all open spaces management, from parks to allotments, cemeteries to playgrounds within the London Borough of Hounslow. Our highly trained operatives cover every aspect of open spaces management, providing expert advice and services to individual homeowners, landlords, housing associations, businesses, facility management companies and local authorities.

Why join Lampton Greenspace?

• We offer annual pay reviews and incremental pay increases
• 21 days holiday allowance, plus bank holidays
• Free gym membership
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity leave and Pension Scheme
• Exclusive Discounts - save with Lampton Rewards and EE mobile offers
• Staff wellbeing perks - online GP access, EAP, health testing, flu jabs, and eye care vouchers
• Sustainability Perks - cycle to work and electric car salary sacrifice scheme
• Career Growth – CPD training, structured development, and leadership opportunities

About the Job

To assist the Countryside Team with the delivery of three programmes of work across a number of countryside sites within the borough, with a primary focus on park maintenance doing a late shift and locking up in line with Bedfont Lakes Country Park changing closing times across the seasons. Lampton Services Greenspace are responsible for the management of all of Hounslow’s parks and open spaces, and the Countryside team specifically maintain the Borough’s local wildlife sites, nature reserves and sites of metropolitan importance. The maintenance team are tasked with maintaining these sites to a high standard, ensuring hedges are cut back; grass is cut; pathways are cleared of debris and litter, and that bins are emptied regularly to ensure the spaces are kept clean and tidy. We have 3 key sites which are visited daily, and others which are visited weekly, and all sites are cut on a 3 weekly rotation during Spring and Summer to ensure they are kept accessible for all, whilst also conserving the Borough’s thriving wildlife and with a view to increase biodiversity. The late shift/lock up role then involves the systematic checking and locking up of Bedfont Lakes Country Park South Side, Bedfont Road and Clockhouse Lane, including the animal centre and yard.

Key Responsibilities:

• You will work within a team of experienced and knowledgeable rangers to deliver a planned programme of maintenance and occasionally practical habitat management across a number of designated nature reserves and country parks.
• You will primarily be tasked with maintenance of the sites, including but not limited to, grass edge cutting, hedge cutting, strimming, litter clearance and bin changes, maintaining infrastructure such as fence repairs, etc., removal of fly tips and tree clearances.
• You will always try to put the customer first, interacting with members of public, our park users, in order to create positive relationships and enhance their visitor experience, and also patrolling the countryside sites to encourage responsible enjoyment of the nature reserves to comply with the park bye laws.
• The Countryside team are responsible for the daily welfare checks of the grazing herd run with the Natural England Stewardship Scheme, and a practical knowledge of animal husbandry will be required to be kept up to date to comply with current legislation, and you will be required to assist with moving these livestock across the sites.
• Occasionally you may assist with data collection for wildlife species, including bat, reptile, butterfly, moth, mammals and birds and delivering nature walks to educate the community and promote the conservation programme across the borough.
• You may assist with the treatment and removal of invasive species from the invasive species map and treatment plan.
• You may also assist with the delivery of the volunteer programme, leading practical conservation tasks to enhance the biodiversity and species count within the borough and working alongside other stakeholders to deliver these, both our regular volunteer groups and also corporate groups.
• During the winter months you will assist with the Winter Works Programme (WWP) to deliver major clearance and tree felling in line with the management plans for each site.
• You will have passion and knowledge relating to the wildlife within the sites and will make up part of the Countryside Team, encouraging your peers as you strive to create an enhanced conservation visitor attraction, but also to collaborate with the wider Lampton business.
• You must have a good understanding of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and comply with all legislation relating to this.
• You may assist with the Environmental Education Programme when needed, especially with the seasonal events such as Christmas Grotto and Halloween walk.
• You may be required to carry out additional work within your capabilities and skill set, this is not limited to Countryside sites but may be required across the borough.
• You will be required to work flexible hours, including weekends, early starts and evenings including late shift to patrol and then lock up two sites.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Full UK Driving license
• Minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade 4 (grade C) or above - or equivalent qualification - including Maths and English.
• An interest in the maintenance of parks and open spaces
• An interest and passion in wildlife and conservation and gardening/garden maintenance
• Good communication skills – both written and oral.
• Able to work on own initiative and take responsibility.
• Reliable, dependable.
• Personable with great interpersonal skills
• Ability to work positively as part of a team
• Have an energised attitude to work
• Ability to work shifts - Weekend and evening work required
• Comfortable using petrol machinery

Due to the needs of the business and the department, we may interview suitable candidates before the closing date. This job may also close early if a large number of applications are received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid missing your chance to apply.

Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of what we value as an organisation. Lampton Group is an equal opportunities employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other status protected by law. Our recruitment team are happy to support with any reasonable adjustments that are needed within the recruitment process.