Conservation Traineeship - Chalk

Langford Lakes,

Steeple Langford
Duck Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 4NH

We are looking for applicants for an exciting Conservation Traineeship focussed on Chalk. Chalk downland is a precious habitat that is abundant in Wiltshire; this year long Traineeship will provide opportunities to develop skills in the management of chalk downland habitats and species.

Conservation Traineeship - Chalk

• Bursary: £1,250 each month
• Contract Type: Fixed Term 12 months
• Working Hours: Full Time 37.5 hours per week
• Closing Date: 9am on Monday 8 September 2025
• Interview Date: Friday 19 September 2025

Two thirds of Wiltshire lies on chalk. The county contains half the UK’s surviving species-rich chalk grassland, some 18,000 hectares, making it home to a range of rare flora and fauna, and one of the best places in the UK for butterflies. Consequently, a signifcant part of our conservation and land management work is focussed on chalk habitats. This year-long Traineeship provides an exciting opportunity for the successful applicant to gain insight and skills in chalk habitat and species management.

Areas of focus include but are not limited to:

• Management and ecology of chalk habitats
• Chalk species identification
• Use of conservation grazing to manage our sites

In addition, all Traineeships offer the opportunity to gain a foundation of experience and skills across a range of habitat types found in Wiltshire, gaining a number of practical qualifications.

No formal educational qualifications or previous training are required but applicants will be expected to demonstrate enthusiasm for the role, show a desire to learn new skills and demonstrate an ability to work as part of a team. Learning will be through a hands-on approach, with a mixture of formal training, shadowing staff and independent tasks.

The majority of the experience will take place outdoors on our nature reserves, with some office work.

A full job description and application pack is available to download below.

Please submit your application to recruitment@wiltshirewildlife.org.

Please note we are only able to accept applications via our Application Form. When completing the form please ensure you use the ‘Motivation’ section to evidence how you believe you meet the essential and desirable criteria detailed in the Job Description. This information will be used in our short-listing process.