Skills

Young people on Exmoor

The former Royal Forest and wider Exmoor is home to wonderful nature and fascinating heritage – but we’re at risk of losing the skills needed to care for this amazing place.

Exmoor Pioneers seeks to nurture and grow local talent to support the development of skills that can sustain the natural and cultural heritage of Exmoor.​ We will:

  • Run four years of the Young Rangers programme, designed to engage young people with the natural environment. Young people, typically aged between 15 to 18, are recruited through schools with a focus on those who may not usually have access to these opportunities. They are involved in a wide range of conservation, environmental, and engagement work across the National Park. These projects can include habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, trail maintenance, heritage preservation, and educational outreach. Exmoor Young Rangers provide valuable assistance with conservation efforts and the opportunity for young people to learn about the importance of preserving natural environments, heritage, and developing skills.
  • Provide 10 paid internship opportunities of up to 12 months offering learning and work experience, which equip young people with the skills and experience needed to secure employment within local businesses. Interns could be placed with businesses or organisations across Exmoor in areas as varied as woodland management services, conservation building businesses, or tourism. ​
  • Facilitate a work experience programme to provide a taster experience for students aged 16-18 years of different opportunities and careers available on Exmoor​.
  • Organise careers fairs to showcase careers opportunities related to rural and heritage skills and tourism​.
  • Strengthen opportunities for a wide range of people to develop varied skills through volunteering. Visit our Join Us page to explore volunteering opportunities.
  • Arrange Heritage Skills taster events to allow young people to get hands-on experience of traditional skills critical for looking after Exmoor’s heritage.