Lydia Winthorpe
What employment sector do you work in?
Public Sector
How long have you had a green job for nature?
3.5 years
Please describe the work that you do.
My role as a green estates ranger with Somerset council involves the practical management of a number of wildlife sites across North West Somerset, which include sites in Taunton, Bridgwater and around Burnham and Highbridge on the coast. The sites I look after include a range of habitats requiring different and specialised approaches to their conservation. Some key habitats I look after are sand dunes, grassland, woodland and reedbed. I also take part in wildlife surveys and engagement.
What do you most like about your job? Any dislikes?
What I love about my job is seeing how the work I do positively impacts wildlife and people. The wildlife surveys offer me an insight to the effectiveness of the practical work that I do, which can be very exciting, especially when I see the positive benefits such as a species returning to the site. I also love facilitating the connection between people and nature. Through engaging with volunteers and the community, I help to encourage them to connect by getting them involved with the restoration and maintenance of their local wildlife sites. A difficult thing to manage in my job are some attitudes towards nature restoration/conservation which demonstrate a lack of understanding or respect. I do find myself often defending the work I do and having to stand up for what I believe in, even if it isn’t a popular opinion. However, I have found this gave me much more confidence and an improved communication skill set after having successful and positive conversations with people who previously disagreed with the work being done.
What inspired you into this career?
For many years I struggled through numerous different jobs as I felt I had no fundamental purpose for why I was doing them. When I found conservation, I found something much bigger than myself. I felt that I had a part to play during this time of climate and biodiversity crisis and could not stand by and do nothing. I feel a great sense of purpose in what I do now and I see the work I do making a big difference. I have always loved the outdoors too and feel very lucky that it is now my office.
Have you faced any challenges in progressing your career so far?
So far I haven’t really faced many challenges. Since getting on to my level 4 apprenticeship I have found it fairly easy to progress in my career. I know how difficult it can be to get a job like this and feel very lucky where I am. Before my apprenticeship, I did find it difficult to get my foot in the door. I think, in many instances, there are a lot of very skilled applicants going for even the assistant roles therefore even feedback on applications was very rare.
What education/training did you have?
Level 4 Countryside Ranger Apprenticeship
What advice would you give to someone coming into the profession?
It doesn’t matter how you do it, but get your foot in the door somehow. Whether that is by volunteering, work experience, working in an organisation and shadowing, experience is key. Additionally, if you can pair good experience with sound education then you are on to a winner. And take a chance, you might not meet all the criteria, but sometimes just showing your passion and initiative can be enough, as I found with my apprenticeship.
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Tags: England, Public sector, Conservation worker, Countryside ranger, Apprenticeship
Date profile submitted: 24/05/2026
