Location
Lyndhurst, Southampton, New Forest, Hampshire

Hours
37 hours per week, worked over 5 days from Monday to Sunday on a rota basis to provide 7-day cover. The role involves regular weekend work, public holidays, early mornings, late evenings, occasional night visits (in pairs), and a rostered on-call weekend and evening escalation contact.

Salary
£30,105 per annum

About the Role
Forestry England is the country’s largest land manager, caring for the nation’s forests for people, nature, and the economy. The South England Forest District team manages 46,000 hectares of public forest estate stretching from Sussex to Dorset and Berkshire to the Isle of Wight, including areas of national and international conservation importance. The Parking Ranger role is based in the New Forest, a landscape renowned for its ancient woodlands and open heathlands.

As a Parking Ranger within the South Forest District team, you will ensure the smooth running of paid-for car parks in the New Forest, protect important habitats, and provide outstanding customer service to visitors. The income generated from car parks supports vital forestry work including habitat conservation, trail maintenance, and public access.

This role is part of Forestry England, a passionate team dedicated to growing the nation’s forests, enhancing biodiversity, and creating exceptional places and experiences for the public. You will contribute to sustainable forest management, helping to maintain vital habitats and supporting the organisation’s mission to balance people, nature, and economy.

Experience
Relevant experience in customer service, outdoor work, or land management is desirable but not essential. A willingness to learn and adapt to the role is important.

About you
Enthusiastic and motivated with a passion for the outdoors and conservation. Able to work independently and as part of a team, with good communication skills and a commitment to providing excellent visitor service. Flexibility to work varied shifts including weekends, public holidays, early mornings, late evenings, and occasional nights is essential.

Ability to work responsibly and safely in a natural environment, respecting wildlife and habitats. A positive attitude towards continuous learning and development is expected.

Qualifications
No formal qualifications are strictly required, but a full UK driving licence is desirable due to the nature of the role. Candidates must have the ability to converse in accurate spoken English as required by the Civil Service. Successful candidates will be subject to a criminal record check and government baseline personnel security standard check.