Chloe Harkness
What employment sector do you work in?
Public Sector
How long have you had a green job for nature?
6 months
Salary Range
£25,001 – £30,000
Please describe the work that you do.
As a Seasonal Ranger, my main role is to patrol part of the National Park during the busy summer season and engage with visitors, ensuring they are accessing the outdoors responsibly whilst also having an enjoyable visit. I will chat about anything from outdoor access, to visitors’ travel plans, to any weird and wonderful wildlife to spot in the area! I also work closely with partner organisations, undertake species monitoring and assist the Countryside Rangers at outdoor events.
What do you most like about your job? Any dislikes?
I’ve always loved being in the outdoors, especially if I’m hiking, identifying unfamiliar species or chatting to people I meet on the trails, so this role is the perfect combination of all three! I really enjoy the knowledge exchange that comes with visitor engagement, as people often have specific interests or questions that lead to brilliant conversations. I also really like feeling as though I’m doing my bit for people and nature – it’s so rewarding being able to look after the outdoors in this way, and to encourage people to make their own connections with nature. I’m very social and so the quieter days can sometimes be challenging, but even these come with opportunities – there’s more time for exploring new areas and working on species ID!
What inspired you into this career?
I always felt I wanted to help nature in any way I could, and try to inspire others to look after it too. The joy that being outside can bring to people from all walks of life is so important, but I realised that, for some, the ‘great outdoors’ can actually be a bit daunting. Being a friendly face, helping people to discover their own love of the outdoors, is something I always wanted to do. There are so many inspiring people in the industry too, to learn from and work with, and it’s an incredible feeling to learn more about the world around me and how I can better protect it for future generations. Nature can’t speak up against all the different pressures it faces, and I’m a firm believer that if people are inspired to feel a connection to it, they will want to look after it.
Have you faced any challenges in progressing your career so far?
The main challenge I’ve faced is the lack of entry-level roles. Most of the roles I’ve seen, in Scotland at least, require a lot of experience – the titles often involve the words ‘Officer’, ‘Senior, or ‘Manager’, but very rarely ‘Assistant’ or ‘Trainee’. Many roles are increasingly requesting more experience, which is often best gained through volunteering, but it’s not always financially viable for someone to give up their time to do this. Seasonal roles are a fantastic way to gain experience, but the tricky bit is finding work between one season finishing and the next one beginning!
What education/training did you have?
I’m currently in my final year of a Wildlife & Conservation Management degree. This has been very useful in teaching me the theory behind lots of different roles in the conservation sector, but was surprisingly lacking in practical experience and I relied on volunteering in my spare time to help fill this gap. This wasn’t all related volunteering though – it ranged from riding schools, to private equine yards, to an art gallery, but all provided transferable skills. During my degree I started pursuing different opportunities – I gained my chainsaw crosscutting & maintenance ticket, completed lots of newt surveys to get my great crested newt survey licence, and signed up for study tours to Romania and Kenya. A lot of opportunities didn’t need a degree to do, I just hadn’t known where to look before!
What advice would you give to someone coming into the profession?
My number one piece of advice would be – if you’re thinking about it, do it! There are so many opportunities in the sector and they really do take you to amazing places. I’d recommend getting in touch with your local ranger service, as they often run volunteering days, or will know other organisations in the area who do. Find out which organisations in your area are hosting workshops or events to attend, and don’t be afraid to get your name out there!
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Tags: Scotland, Public sector, Conservation worker, Environmental educator, Countryside ranger
Date profile submitted: 01/04/2025
