person crouching down next to a rock — Me with neolithic "cup and ring" rockart (Tanya Eyre)

Job Profile: Outreach and Education Officer

Name: Tanya Eyre

Employer: Fylingdales Moor Environmental Stewardship Scheme (FMESS) Company formed to support the Higher Level Stewardship Project supported by Natural England

Location: Fylingdales Moor on the North York Moors

Job Responsibilities:

a group of children in bracken all standing looking at the camera ad smiling with trees and a cloud filled sky in the background — A group from Scarborough College walking our nature trail at Jugger Howe (Tanya Eyre)

I develop and lead curriculum appropriate outdoor activities to enthuse school groups to come and learn and develop an appreciation of our moorland. Plus other groups eg Guides, adult naturalist groups…

Occasionally I hold stands at local nature related events.

Time is spent both indoors (admin from home, no office) but the majority is outdoors teaching and reccieing.

a person holding their arm out where a lizard is crawling — A student from Fylingdales primary with a common lizard on her arm (Tanya Eyre)

There is some seasonal variation: Administration, contacting teachers, developing/updating activities during winter months. Main teaching season March-November with busiest time May and June.

Qualifications needed:

Biology degree. Teaching qualification. Many conservation jobs require a car to reach them easily at the times needed, ironically.

Additional training:

DBS but that’s typically done by the employer. First Aid for the outdoors paid for by the employer.

Skills needed:

Enthusiasm. Adaptable especially to the weather. Knowledge of my site, identify plants and other wildlife, and most importantly wow factors about them.

children standing on a bridge — Fylingdales Primary on a river study day (Tanya Eyre)

Advice to anyone looking at similar roles:

Volunteer to get a range of experience, gives you lots to talk about at interview with concrete examples. Doesn’t have to be five days a week for months, just helping an evening a month could help.

Seek this work if you get a buzz about sharing your interest in the natural world with others. I did work long hours at field centres earlier in my career and it’s not well paid. But the fact after teaching outdoors for 26 years I still look forward to sharing nature with groups, says it all (when the sun’s shining).

a green cottongrass growing in a burnt landscape in a beautiful bright blue sky — Harestail Cotton Grass regowth 10 months after the 2025 Langdale fire (Tanya Eyre)

If you have any queries about this role or would like to ask a question of the job holder please contact Tanya on fylingdaleseducation@gmail.com

Updated information June 2026:

Following the fire that decimated Tanya's patch in the summer of 2025, we asked her how it had affected her?

The area burnt was mostly the high moor where due to access I rarely take visits.

Our Rangers were raw for months. But we are encouraged at the regrowth especially of resilient moorland species including common and hares tail grass (photo taken ten months on) and heath rush.

Heather will take years to look like mature moorland, a few patches of low heather have survived where the fire went around where we had in the last few years controlled burnt in the winter.

Check out volunteering opportunities in environmental & outdoor education here