Spend 16 weeks with Ambios and leave with the skills you need for a career working for nature recovery.
Ambios offers an immersive residential traineeship based on 130 acres of wildlife-friendly farmland and rewilding on the Sharpham Estate in South Devon. The training is embedded in Ambios’ on-site nature recovery work, helping you build a wealth of first-hand experience indispensable in developing a future working for wildlife.
Nature conservation in the UK is changing. Alarming wildlife declines have highlighted the need to embrace large-scale nature recovery to reinforce traditional conservation approaches. In the words of Devon Wildlife Trust, “Conservation – holding on to the fragmented wildlife and wild places that remain – is no longer good enough. It is time to put nature into recovery”. We offer foundation knowledge, skills, and experience needed in the conservation sector but with a particular emphasis on emerging nature recovery opportunities.
Ambios has been delivering nature training for over two decades. Our alumni have a successful track record of moving into jobs within the conservation sector in the UK.
Dates: 17th March 2025 – 4th July 2025
Timed to coincide with the ecological survey season across the spring and summer months giving you access to the best possible wildlife and learning experiences.
Location:
Lower Sharpham Farm, Ashprington, Totnes. TQ9 7DX.
Cost: £4,950
Inclusive of all food, accommodation, training, and field trips
Here on the stunningly beautiful Sharpham Estate you’ll discover a rare chance to be immersed in experiential learning, and our on-site rewilding gives you an irreplaceable opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with nature.
Foundation knowledge of ecology, biodiversity, wildlife identification and nature recovery is progressively built through a core of presentations and workshops. This learning is put into action each week through applied training experiences including wildlife monitoring, practical land management and community projects, helping you to secure confidence in your new skills.
Along the way, visits to partner recovery sites in Devon, local nature reserves, and Dartmoor National Park, with chances to network among the wider nature recovery community will enrich your understanding of the movement and your learning journey.
Ambios, with its 30-year legacy, offers a team of professional scientists, land managers, and conservation educators ready to enhance your learning and placement experience with their diverse expertise. Throughout your programme, you will receive personalised support and guidance to strengthen your confidence, enhance your career prospects and find your direction.
This traineeship offers foundation knowledge, skills, and experience needed to work in the wildlife sector with a special emphasis on nature recovery.
Our 16-week immersive program covers a wide range of learning experiences, including:
Dive into the world of ecology with hands-on workshops, presentations, and field experiences that explore key ecological principles, the current state of UK nature, and different land management approaches for nature recovery. You’ll also explore models, economies, and funding opportunities essential for nature recovery.
Build your wildlife identification skills through specialised workshops that focus on key species groups including plants, birds, insects, bats, and mammals—transforming you into a confident and knowledgeable naturalist.
Master essential industry-standard wildlife survey techniques by applying your ID skills in real-time through regular monitoring of our dynamic rewilding site to gain invaluable field experience. Build experience using important technologies including GIS, GPS, bat-detecting equipment & camera traps.
Master essential industry-standard wildlife survey techniques by applying your ID skills in real-time through regular monitoring of our dynamic rewilding site to gain invaluable field experience. Build experience using important technologies including GIS, GPS, bat-detecting equipment & camera traps.
Gain hands-on experience in woodland creation, livestock handling and care, safe tool use, and countryside management through field-based training sessions. Connect with nature through traditional rural crafts, including spoon carving, charcoal burning, and stool-making.
Participate in horticulture sessions in our organic vegetable garden, guided by permaculture principles. Learn about the relationship between nature and farming, explore wild food foraging and fermenting, and learn about the intricate relationships between plants and people.
Unlock your potential with personalised coaching sessions to help you discover your passions and build confidence to embark on a career in nature. You’ll also develop key communication skills, from delivering powerful presentations to thriving in team environments.
Engage with our on-site community and collaborate with our partners to gain valuable experiences and expand your personal network. Get involved in our environmental outreach and public engagement activities, including our annual Rewilding and Regenerative Agriculture Literary Festival.
Visit partner rewilding sites through the Devon Rewilding Network, and discover their unique rewilding experiences. Explore different landscapes in the surrounding areas of Devon and gain insights into the various land management approaches used in the surrounding areas.
An important part of Ambios’s residential training is community life. You will be living and working alongside other trainees, staff, and volunteers throughout your time with us and the residential nature of the training is integral to the experience you’ll gain.
You’ll be based at Lower Sharpham Farm, our wildlife-friendly working farm and rewilding site on 130 acres of the Sharpham Estate, near to the vibrant market town of Totnes. The site sits among the trees with spectacular views of the River Dart and the idyllic surrounding countryside.
Our farm is central to our ability to provide valuable real-world experiences for participants on our residential traineeships.
You can learn more about Lower Sharpham Farm on our Venues and Facilities page.
You’ll be staying in our Bunkhouse, which has 11 single bedrooms and three bathrooms. Our new adjoining communal dayroom space has a shared kitchen with a large, comfortable living area and wood burner. This space also has an additional bathroom and utility room.
Our traditional yurt acts as the main indoor training space, whilst practical experience can be gained in our machinery, forestry and countryside management workshops. The site also hosts a woodland fire-pit clearing with a clay-fired pizza oven for outdoor gatherings. The main barn is used for livestock care and occasionally as an events venue.
You will be encouraged to live sustainably, helping in our organic garden, assisting with farm tasks, and shared community life. Meals are prepared communally with all ingredients provided, using local, organic produce where possible, some directly from the farm.
Part of the unique experience of training with Ambios is the community you’ll create with your fellow trainees. Living and working together, you’ll grow and prepare food, clean and take care of your accommodation and learn and socialise as a group.
You’ll also be living with a motivated and enthusiastic small team of volunteers who help with the running of the farm and who also have personal experience and skills to share.
Many trainees report a sense of renewal, inspiration & hope. Training with Ambios is more than just learning – this extended period away from day-to-day life allows clarity of mind and many find a new energy and confidence in their direction.
Complete the application form below & email farm@ambios.net to let us know you have applied.
We will be in touch with further details, to answer your questions, and if we feel the traineeship is a good fit for you, we’ll offer you a place.
Secure your place by paying a £150 non-refundable deposit. We will confirm your place and send you all the pre-course information.
Ambios Ltd Cancellation Policy
We have a limited number of subsidised bursary places available for this traineeship. These bursaries are eligible for those facing financial hardship (e.g. unemployed, in receipt of benefits, low wage, carer for dependent other). If your case is accepted by the Board, we offer a £500 reduction on the training fee.
If you would like to apply for a bursary please fill in the traineeship application form above as normal. Once you submit this, please drop us an email on farm@ambios.net confirming that it has been sent and that you would like to be considered for the bursary. We will then send further details on next steps.
* Please note that we are unable to offer bursaries covering the full cost of the traineeship.
Ambios Ltd is a UK registered not-for-profit company limited by guarantee – meaning it can only spend its income on helping people achieve their goals for nature/science/education and supporting organisations in achieving their objectives for wildlife/conservation/biodiversity.
Companies House Registration Number: 4185277
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