Ashridge Estate Recruiting to Help Protect Future of Landscape
The National Trust’s Ashridge Estate is on the lookout for new people to join its Protecting Our Roots project team.
In September 2023, the charity launched its Protecting Our Roots project to protect the long-term future of the landscape which is under increasing pressure from high visitor numbers. Now, it’s looking to expand the team and is recruiting three new engagement officers to help them in their goal to secure the special habitats in its care.
Josh Kyle, Interim General Manager at Ashridge Estate said: ‘Ashridge is a place where nature and history intertwine. Its ancient woodlands, sweeping grasslands, and historic parklands are home to over 1,000 veteran trees and rare wildlife. Hundreds of thousands of people every year come to enjoy this beautiful and treasured landscape. Unfortunately, the volume of visitors is having an impact on the special landscape that we have a duty to protect. But we’re taking action to safeguard its future.
‘Protecting Our Roots is an ambitious but vital project which will see us make some significant changes at Ashridge. We know that engaging directly with visitors and our local community is the best way to help people understand what we are doing and why.’
The new roles will primarily be involved in engaging with visitors on the ground and reaching out into our communities. With more than 30,000 new homes due to be built in the area over the next 10 years, the team at Ashridge are hoping the new roles will help them reach more people.
Josh continues: ‘Spending time in the outdoors has so many benefits for our health and wellbeing, and Ashridge Estate is a beautiful place to do just that. With the local population expected to increase significantly, we want to engage directly with as many people as possible so they can spend time in the landscape in a way that doesn’t impact the very place they have come to enjoy.’
While the new roles will predominantly be focused on engagement work, they will also support the rangers in their work to look after the estate, so the team are looking for people who enjoy the outdoors.
Josh explains: ‘As well as being a great people person, we’re looking for people who are passionate about nature and enjoy spending time in the outside as they will be working alongside the rangers to help carry out essential conservation work across the estate. From maintaining footpaths and bridleways to installing way markers, spreading protective mulch around ancient trees, and helping to safeguard delicate habitats, these roles will make tangible impact on the ground – helping nature flourish for generations to come. We hope the roles will attract people from all sorts of different backgrounds and experiences.
‘Ashridge Estate is at a pivotal moment in its history so it’s an exciting time to join and we’re looking forward to welcoming new people to the team.’
Anyone who is interested in applying should visit www.nationaltrustjobs.org.uk/jobs and search Ashridge Estate. The deadline for applications is 30 March 2025.
Image © National Trust
