Learning with Life on the Edge - South Devon National Landscape
By Nicky Bailey, Volunteer and Learning Officer - Life on the Edge, South Devon National Landscape
%20SDNL-cattle.JPG "A lady smiles at the camera and a long horned cow stands behind her, staring at the camera.")
The South Devon coast is home to one of the most diverse ranges of plant and invertebrate species in the UK, thanks to its warm climate, unique geology and long history of low-intensity farming. But many of these species are now in serious trouble, with some facing extinction. These vulnerable and special species are holding on along a thin strip of coast, squeezed by the sea on one side and increasingly intensive agriculture on the other.
Life on the Edge (LotE) is a project that gives these species a lifeline to the future - to make more space for nature along the coast, targeting the needs of our rarest species with measures that also help our more common wildlife.
The result will be a coastline and its connected hinterland that is buzzing with wildlife, packed with wildflowers and a treat for the eye for residents and visitors alike.
This £4.5million project is being delivered by the South Devon National Landscape (SDNL) team, with partners Buglife, National Trust, South West Coast Path and Doorstep Arts, as well as many local groups and organisations. It is supported by a £2.24m Heritage Fund grant in addition to other smaller grants and match funding. The project runs until March 2029.
%20SDNL-gate.jpg "Three peoples stand next to a newly built gate on a dry stoned wall.")
Core to the project is involving people, helping them to reconnect to nature, refreshing their sense of wellbeing and empowering them to make a difference for nature.
Our Learning with LotE programme embeds knowledge building opportunities right across the project. From more informal learning at events, volunteering tasks and activities, to more structured learning opportunities with schools, volunteer training, skill sharing and community workshops.
The top tier of Learning with LotE is paid learning and development opportunities through our Apprenticeship and Trainee schemes. We recognised that there were limited openings for new people to enter the environment sector, with fewer entry level jobs being advertised. This has impacted recruitment and has the knock on effect of a real lack of workforce diversity.
We designed these posts to try and reduce barriers for people taking this opportunity by:
- Providing some accommodation with our partner organisations
- Paying the National Living wage at apprentice or standard rates
- Setting the role profiles at entry level
- Limiting applicants to those who have not had paid work in this field before
Through our LotE Apprenticeship scheme, nine people will complete an 18 month level 2 Countryside Worker apprenticeship. They are placed within the teams of our partners at National Trust and Field Studies Council, benefitting from their skills and gaining real on the ground experience.
%20SDNL-seed.jpg "Three people sift through grass seed on plastic sheets on grassland.")
Our first three apprentices are coming towards the end of their programme in March and we have recently recruited the second cohort, due to start at the end of February 2026. The current team have spent the last year working in all weathers out on the coast of South Devon, and have massively grown in confidence, skills and hopefully, employability. They have benefited from the expertise of the ranger teams they have been working with, but also the wider LotE team, joining us on events, guided walks, school sessions and species surveys.
We had a real diversity of people applying, from those fresh out of college to those who were looking for a career change. Our first cohort included a long term volunteer, a university graduate and someone who had been a drummer for 10 years touring internationally and had fallen in love with ranger work through volunteering, whilst looking for a career change! This is what they told us about their experience.
%20SDNL-photography.jpg "An apprentice sits on a wooden bench by the sea cliff taking photos.")
“Since joining the apprenticeship, I have had a wealth of opportunities that I never thought I’d get to experience! From creating and installing benches and tables from scratch using green woodworking processes, herding in Dartmoor ponies, to being a part of a huge woodland creation project planting a total of 110,000 trees." Simone
“… recently I've been knee deep in mud building leaky dams, surveying for oil beetles along the coast path and using chainsaw skills to control invasive plant species. All the while being constantly surrounded by passionate individuals who are keen to share their skills and wisdom - it’s been a refreshing experience so far, I’ve started to gain a lot more confidence in not only myself but also my abilities.” Maisie
“Another aspect of my apprenticeship that I value is the chance to contribute to a project that engages local communities. Conservation should be accessible to everyone, and I’m proud to be part of a programme that offers opportunities to people from diverse backgrounds. It’s fulfilling to know that the work we do is making a difference for both nature and people alike.” Jacob
We also offer ten paid LotE Trainee posts during the project, focusing on community engagement and ecology. These trainees build expertise in different areas of work and complement the more traditional countryside management skills gained through volunteering or the apprenticeships. We have had four already and are currently recruiting for this summer’s posts. We had higher numbers of applications for these trainee posts than any recruitment for the whole of the host authority. The last round of recruitment had 148 applicants for two 6 month posts, showing a real appetite to enter the countryside sector and work with us.
Our apprentices and trainees have brought a real energy and enthusiasm to our team, eager to learn and keen to have a go at whatever we throw at them! It is also seen as a real positive outcome of the project for all of our funders.
It’s been one of the most rewarding parts of the project so far and we are overwhelmed by the levels of passion from people who want to join our working world. It’s wonderful to be able to help crank the door open and assist these people take to that first step on the career ladder, in a sector that we are all so lucky to be part of.
Find all the articles in the CJS Focus on...Apprenticeships Series here
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