Every year the Ranger team based at Ham Hill Country Park and Yeovil Country Park take on a new apprentice in September. Each apprenticeship post is a partnership between Kingston Maurward College and South Somerset Ranger Service, and is structured so that students spend four days a week working alongside the Ranger team and one day a week at Kingston Maurward College. These practical placements offer the opportunity to gain vocational training as well as the valuable opportunity of gaining the practical experience necessary to start a career in countryside management.
The placement is based within a small, friendly team, which consists of experienced rangers covering a range of countryside management skills, from coppicing, scrub clearance and tree felling to dry stone walling and erecting fences and gates. Apprentices also gain many opportunities in working with members of the public at events and with volunteers. Assessments in all practical aspects of countryside management are undertaken regularly in-house at Ham Hill, as well as other countryside sites that the Ranger service look after, including Yeovil Country Park and Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve
Case studies
From September 2008 to September 2009, apprentices Ashley Mitchell and Alexandra Wilmot have been working alongside the ranger team at Ham Hill Country Park, and carrying out practical training throughout this time.
Ashley, who lives on a local farm with his family says: 'I wanted to undertake an apprenticeship at Ham Hill because it looked like a great opportunity to continue working outside whilst learning new countryside management skills, and not only that - it is really close to home! I am keen to learn how to manage the countryside not only from a farming perspective, but for wildlife and recreation as well, and as I don't really enjoy sitting in a classroom, this is the perfect way to learn!'
Alex, who has relocated from near Bristol to take part in the apprenticeship says: 'I was attracted to the idea of the apprenticeship at Ham Hill because not only to be able to work a fascinating historic site, but because I would like to persue a career in countryside management. So far I definitely feel that I have gained a greater understanding of what being a ranger involves, and have learnt lots of new skills such as coppicing and dry stone walling. I also enjoy assisting with the school visits and public events that take place, and will have the chance to lead some sessions myself during the summer.'
Apprenticeships are advertised in the local press every May and on the Dorset County Council website but if you would like to speak to someone informally please contact the Ham Hill Office on 01935 823617 or email the Ham Hill team
Work Experience Placements
Ham Hill has always been a popular work placement for school and college students that want a challenging and practical placement outdoors. Placement students have the opportunity to gain a wide range of practical conservation experience first hand as they work alongside the Countryside Ranger team. A typical work placement very much depends on the time of year, but in the winter months would probably include scrub clearance and assisting in tree felling, and in the summer months pulling ragwort, moving livestock and keeping the park clean and tidy. If you are interested in taking part in a work placement at Ham Hill or at Yeovil Country Park please contact the Human Resources Team at South Somerset District Council on 01935 462462.
Please note the Ranger team receive many requests for placements every year and not all applications will be successful.
View a photo gallery showing the sort of work the Ham Hill apprentices and work experience students can expect to carry out
