Ethan Purdy
What employment sector do you work in?
Public Sector
How long have you had a green job for nature?
3 Years
Salary Range
£20,000 – £25,000
Please describe the work that you do.
I’m a National Park Ranger, so the task are almost as vast as the park we cover. From Practical Conservation, to engagement and education, it’s a career almost defined by the variety. But once boiled down, it all centres on people and place. It’s a landscape which is entrusted to our care, and if we do our job correctly, in some ways, people all over will have a far better understanding of the natural world. And deep in a woodland, they may never know we were there. What a way to spend your day.
What do you most like about your job? Any dislikes?
The responsibility. In a world that’s so climate anxious, I get to wake up and make the world a better place. It may be bit by bit, but I know I work in a team which is full of people determined to leave this corner of our planet in a better place than they found it – and that’s a truly inspiring environment in which to work.Text
What inspired you into this career?
A combination of upbringing and environment. I was born by the sea on the south coast, and then moved to the South Downs. So, in some of the most important years of my childhood, my retreat was woodland. Tired and nerve shaken I could disappear into a world of verdant green. As such, I grew up adoring the environment I was in, and I think this lead to an adulthood determined to protect it. On average, kids in the UK spend between 1-5% of their lives outside, and I’m determined to change that.
Have you faced any challenges in progressing your career so far?
Conservation is a small world. And with this, comes competition for careers. Often, getting on the career ladder requires volunteering, which not everyone can afford the time to do.
This does have its upsides however, as that competition means that everyone who’s in the field is absolutely passionate about what they do, and that’s infectious.
What education/training did you have?
City & Guilds Advanced Extended Technical Diploma in Environmental Conservation and Wildlife Management – Sparsholt College
BSc (Hons) Ocean Sciences – Bangor University
What advice would you give to someone coming into the profession?
It would be twofold:
1) Work out your why. Everyone in this industry has a passion for what they do, but these are not all the same. Find what lights your fire, and follow it. The world needs that passion.
2) it’s never too late. I’ve worked in a team that’s consisted on conservation experts, who have had previous lives as finance experts and Surgical Nurses. Don’t let time dictate your drive for what comes next.
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Tags: England, Public sector, Conservation worker, Countryside ranger
Date profile submitted: 05/10/2024
