• Welcome
• About the National Trust
• Conservation at the National Trust
• The region you could cover
  • Yorkshire & North East
  • West Midlands
  • East Midlands
  • Wales
  • Wessex
  • Thames & Solent
  • Devon & Cornwall
  • South East
• The role of Conservation Services Manager
• Benefits and rewards
• Ready to apply?

Wessex

Blessed with some of the England's most spectacular countryside, coastline and historic buildings, including three world heritage sites, this region, covering Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset and the conurbations of Bath and Bristol, offers abundant opportunity and constant challenge. Whether it's a bracing walk along the Jurassic coast, a spiritual visit to Stonehenge or an educational tour around one of our many treasured houses, such as Kingston Lacy or Snowshill, our visitors have got plenty of experiences to choose from.

Working right at the cutting edge of our evolving philosophy for engagement through conservation, we're lucky enough to be pioneering new and exciting projects which approach the protection and enjoyment of our heritage from a refreshing and progressive angle. Tyntesfield, one of the finest surviving Victorian estates in the country, is an exceptional example of this. Through specific projects, such as restoration of the orangery, the gathering together of local memories to piece together a written history, the protection of the an 150 year old library and uncovering of a secret garden, we've put the future of this magnificent property, firmly in the hands of many, so that we may bring its rich past to life with the very people who will go on to enjoy it for generations.

Another interesting and ambitious project is the exciting £3m scheme to conserve and improve one of our oldest properties, Chedworth Roman Villa, near Yanworth in Gloucestershire, which attracts over 50,000 visitors each year. Plans include building a shelter for an important collection of 4C mosaics, so that they are more accessible to the public via suspended walkways, as well as opportunities for the public to take part in special conservation workshops. A new learning centre will also provide an inspiring environment for young people and the local community to get directly involved in their heritage and history.

In every case across our region, our vision is clear – these special places belong to us all and we must work together to bring them to life for, and with, all the people who enjoy them.

A word from our Assistant Director, Nicola Andrews
(who lends us her voice in place of our Director, who is currently lucky enough to be on sabbatical in Australia)

"We're looking for an exceptionally strong leader. One who will provide a dynamic, approachable advisory service, which offers expert guidance across the critically important and complex conservation agenda we face. This is crucial for two reasons: our region has one of the biggest rental estates in the Trust and we are lucky enough to be working at the very forefront of the Trust's strategic vision to engage people through our conservation work. A planner and prioritiser and, above all, people person, we need someone who'll steer a clear and confident course for all our pioneering endeavours."