Veterans Pathway

Seven weeks of practical training, new skills and new opportunities

Our seven week Land Management & Wildlife Conservation Programme gives military and emergency service veterans the opportunity to gain recognised qualifications, practical experience and a genuine understanding of the careers available across the environmental and rural sectors.

Much of the programme takes place outdoors across the 850 acres of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park. You will learn by doing, using industry equipment, working alongside experienced instructors and taking part in real conservation and land management activity.

Below is a snapshot of what you can expect during the programme. The sections further down the page give you more detail about some of the different areas you will experience.

What you will experience

• Wildlife management, learning about woodland habitats, deer populations and how large estates manage wildlife and the environment.
• Woodland habitat management, understanding how woodlands are managed, learning tree identification, recognising different species and developing an awareness of how habitat condition affects wildlife and conservation.
• Risk assessment, learning how to identify hazards, assess risk and make safe decisions before carrying out practical work in outdoor environments.
• Hand tools and spoon carving, learning to use hand tools safely and confidently through practical activities such as spoon carving. This provides a useful foundation before progressing to more powerful equipment such as brushcutters and chainsaws.
• Chainsaw training, developing practical skills in safe operation, maintenance and cross cutting while working towards recognised qualifications.
• Brushcutter training, gaining experience with equipment widely used across conservation, estates, forestry and grounds management.
• ATV and UTV training, learning how to operate specialist vehicles safely and confidently across rural terrain.
• Forestry first aid, developing the skills to respond effectively to incidents in woodland, forestry and remote working environments.
• Drone work, exploring how drones are increasingly used for surveying, conservation, land management and environmental monitoring.
• Cornish hedging, learning a traditional and highly practical countryside skill that remains valuable across estates and rural land management.
• Practical conservation, working on genuine projects and contributing directly to the management and improvement of natural environments.
• Environmental monitoring, gaining an introduction to the technology and field skills increasingly used to understand and protect landscapes.
• Employability and career support, helping you identify opportunities, understand the sector, meet employers and translate your existing experience into your next career.
• Volunteering and real world experience, giving you practical evidence of your skills and helping you build confidence in a new working environment.
• Teamwork, confidence and resilience, developed naturally throughout the programme through practical challenges, shared experiences and learning something new.