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Greenspace

people picnicing in an urban park (image: Rob Bye on unsplash)

Greenspace is specifically urban parks and the green areas within built up areas.  Greenspace management frequently involves large elements of community involvement and can also cover bluespace the rivers and canals passing through our towns and cities and brownfields - land previously used but now is vacant or derelict. 

Like countryside management in rural areas greenspace management includes elements of conservation, recreation, ecology, environmental education, wildlife and visitor management and requires a wide range of interests and skills.

Jobs and employment

Typical jobs include Greenspace Officer, Park Ranger, Park Manager, Ranger, Site Manager, Greenspace Project Officer, Greenspace Infrastructure Adviser. The National Careers Service has role profiles for some of these (click the links).

See current vacancies advertised with CJS here for practical management type roles  and here for community involvement roles.

To gain the experience required volunteering is frequently a good start.

See current practical management volunteering opportunities advertised with CJS here and here for community involvement type roles.

  

Skills, training and CPD.

There are many different skills and qualifications required to work in greenspace, traditional ranger type skills and also those required for people management.

 CRB clearance is sometimes required when projects are dealing with vulnerable members of society.

Information and in depth articles

Managing visitors with dogs post-Covid, Stephen Jenkinson

CSH Nature Recovery Rangers at the NHS, Centre for Sustainable Healthcare

The Green Flag Award Scheme celebrates its silver jubilee

Looking after our parks during lockdown, The Royal Parks

People need Parks, Rugby Borough Council

A Welcome in our Green Spaces, Black Environment Network

Five suggestions for successfully managing urban greenspace, Matt Chatfield, Naturenet 

 

Useful organisations

Countryside Management Association

Scottish Countryside Rangers Association

National Trust

National Trust for Scotland

Natural England

Scottish Natural Heritage

Natural Resources Wales

Groundwork

TCV

The Land Trust

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