Walkham Land Management Advisor

Walkham Land Management Advisor

Based in Bovey Tracey and Princetown, Devon

This is a full-time (37hrs p/wk) position, for a fixed-term until 30/06/2026. The role is based
at the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) offices at Parke and Princetown.

About Us

DNPA is the body that oversees the vibrant, living, working landscape and community that is
Dartmoor. We help to conserve and enhance the biodiversity, cultural heritage and landscape of
Dartmoor and provide opportunities for people to enjoy the countryside as well as supporting
our local communities and the rural economy.

About the Walkham Valley Landscape Recovery Scheme (WVLR)

The Walkham catchment is a tributary of the River Tamar on the western side of the moor that
hosts an incredible array of habitats and species as well as a rich historical and cultural
heritage. Landscape Recovery is the new innovative upper tier of the Government Environment
Land Management Scheme (ELMS) that aims to achieve landscape scale and coherent ecological
restoration through a collaborative long-term approach.

The WVLR is a farmer and landowner led initiative about to begin a two-year development phase
exploring options that will cumulate in an agreed and costed business plan to support long-term
environmental enhancement and business resilience across the scheme area. This will lead to an
exciting 20 year delivery phase that will provide the support, resources and funding to deliver
a vision developed and owned principally by those who live and work in the Valley.

About the Dartmoor Hill Farming Project (HFP)

The HFP was established through a partnership of local farmers and organisations to help
support a viable and sustainable future for farming on Dartmoor. The Project’s primary function
is to provide advice and information, promote skills development, secure funding and offer a
single point of contact to rural communities and partners regarding key issues.

About the role

We are looking for someone prepared to immerse themselves in the Walkham Valley landscape,
build positive, trusted and lasting relationships with the communities that live within the
catchment and develop an ecological understanding that will inform and help drive the long-term
future of this treasured part of Dartmoor.

The role has three main objectives:

The first is to survey all the holdings within the catchment to establish an ecological
baseline and identify priority habitats and species that are currently present. This will
include working with contractors on commons and collating data from partners.

The second is to provide options and advice around future enhancement based on the existing
ecosystem, opportunities and the ambition of the landowners and land managers involved. You
will through consultation develop an ambitious and exciting plan of ecological enhancement and
creation that will form the foundation of the subsequent 20 year delivery phase.

Finally, to advise and assist farmers to apply for new ELMs agreements, principally SFI and
Higher Tier. The aim is to provide support and ensure that new agreements align and synergise
with the emerging plan for the overarching Landscape Recovery scheme.

Benefits

• Salary of £32,076 – £36,648 per annum
• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous annual leave allowance plus public holidays
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Based at our stunning HQ on the National
  Trust’s Parke estate near Bovey Tracey
• Free staff parking and National Trust café on site

About you

The successful applicant will be extremely organised, passionate, driven and enjoy working
outside. They will have excellent ecological knowledge, botanical skills, experience of
carrying out surveys and an excellent understanding of landscape scale ecosystems.

You will understand how farming systems work, have extensive experience of working with farmers
and rural communities and a track record of building positive rapport and long-term working
relationships. The post holder will also have significant experience of providing agricultural
advice, particularly around agri-environmental schemes and assisting with both applications and
ongoing support.

The post is hosted by Dartmoor National Park Authority and will be based in Princetown and
Parke but will involve travelling around Dartmoor.

For further information, or to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Chris Gile –
Head of Conservation and Land Management ([email protected]).

If you are interested in applying for the role, please see details on our website.

Closing date: 16 June 2024