Environment & Sustainability

Environmental Conservation

Horticulture
Landscape Architecture

Agriculture
Environmental Conservation

27% of the land in Yorkshire is under national landscape and nature conservation designations, the highest percent of any county in the UK. With the Peak District and the Yorkshire dales on your doorstep and plenty of national trust reserves across the region like Flamborough Cliffs and Spurn point on the East coast and Askham Bogs near York.

Work for graduates in the area of environmental conservation includes consultancy or advisory work which involves giving practical advice on landscape and wildlife conservation to farmers, land managers and other organisations. This could include advice on how best to conserve existing landscape or historical features, promote and conserve wildlife and help to promote conservation to local communities living in rural areas.

You could also find yourself working as a conservation officer. A more hands on role, you're likely to be working in a conservation area helping to conserve plants and wildlife and promoting conservation to the local community by talking to school and community groups and devising policy to promote awareness and understanding of the environment.

Other roles in the area include sustainable development officers, project officers, biodiversity officers or water conservation officers who take on a number of roles in conservation, education on the environment, consultancy and advice as well as policy making.

To get into the area of conservation you should have a relevant degree backed up by some substantial hands on experience of the role as well as a passion to work with the natural environment.

Good ways to gain work experience include volunteering with local conservation projects or National Trust reserves, work shadowing or helping with conversation projects. As many of the roles in the area require a good knowledge of the natural landscape, plants and animals, any experience in these areas are likely to add weight to your CV.