The West Suffolk Woodlands Warden is a key member of the West Area Reserves Team, working under the direction of the South West Suffolk Senior Warden to deliver high-quality conservation management across Bradfield Woods, Bulls Wood, Bonny Wood and Combs Wood, while supporting work on other West area reserves as required.

The post leads on turning the Trust’s conservation objectives into practical action: producing and updating reserve management plans; planning and delivering habitat management works; coordinating ecological monitoring; maintaining machinery, equipment and site infrastructure; and overseeing contractors and compliance, including consents, budgets and reporting.

A major part of the role is recruiting, developing and leading volunteers to support conservation work across the reserves, ensuring excellent standards of health and safety at all times. The role also includes public engagement, helping to ensure a welcoming and accessible experience for every visitor. Friendly, organised and hands-on, the Warden is a visible ambassador for Suffolk Wildlife Trust, raising awareness of the Trust’s work through day-to-day engagement, events and communications that support the mission to bring nature back.

Find out more about Bradfield Woods

Across Suffolk, the Trust cares for 50 reserves covering over 2,900 hectares (7,100 acres), protecting a wide range of habitats and providing opportunities for people to connect with nature.

In West Suffolk, the Trust looks after some outstanding woodland reserves that showcase the richness of Suffolk’s ancient woodlands with habitats shaped by traditional management and careful monitoring.

These reserves offer everything from spring woodland wildflowers to botanically rich coppice and rides and they play an important role in restoring biodiversity across the wider landscape. West Suffolk is also home to the Trust’s Lackford Lakes visitor centre near Bury St Edmunds & Bradfield Woods, helping welcome and inspire visitors while supporting the Trust’s mission & strategic plans.

The post holder will need strong practical knowledge of woodland, wetland, meadow and heathland habitats, with hands-on experience delivering habitat management works using industry-standard conservation power tools and relevant machinery. You’ll bring excellent communication, partnership working and project management skills, with the ability to engage and support volunteers, work safely with contractors and manage resources effectively. A good working knowledge of Microsoft 365 is essential, alongside a willingness to learn and apply task-specific tools and systems (e.g. GIS/QGIS, volunteer management systems & CRM). You’ll be confident assessing risk and producing risk assessments, comfortable working outdoors in all weathers and varied terrain (including around water bodies), and able to think on your feet—resolving issues and conflict with a proactive, solutions-focused approach.

This is a permanent position working 37.5 hours per week (five out of seven days each week - standard hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm) based at Bradfield Wood Nature Reserve. The starting salary will be between £28,088.00 & £30,088.00 per annum depending on skills, knowledge and experience.

To apply for this opportunity, please submit an application via our website by 9:00am on Tuesday 07 April 2026 with interviews are planned for week commencing 20 April 2026 at Bradfield Woods.

Supporting Documents

Annual leave entitlement starts at 33 days per annum (including Bank Holidays), increasing annually to 38 days plus employees receive an extra day off for their birthday. We offer a 9% employer pension contribution with no employee contribution required, free 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme, free life insurance from day one of employment, free access to a private GP and discounts at high street retailers. Staff can also enjoy a 10% discount in our visitor centre cafes, including retail.

We are committed to being an inclusive organisation where everyone is welcome. As a conservation charity, we recognise the value of diversity both in nature and in our staff & volunteers. Suffolk Wildlife Trust is an organisation where everyone feels respected, valued & empowered to contribute, so that together we can deliver our vision, mission & strategic goals for a wilder Suffolk.

SUFFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST

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