THE first job has been advertised at Center Parcs Scottish Borders as work continues on the £450 million build of the new resort.
Center Parcs is looking to appoint a senior conservative ranger to support work at the site, which is being created on land between Hawick and Selkirk.
With enabling works now underway, the role will provide specialist on-site conservation expertise throughout the construction phase – helping to ensure the project meets the highest environmental standards and complies with Scottish conservation legislation.
The ranger will play a key role in supporting environmental compliance, protecting wildlife during site development, and ensuring that forestry, biodiversity and ecological commitments are delivered in line with Center Parcs’ ethos.
Once Center Parcs Scottish Borders opens, expected in summer 2029, the ranger will continue to support the long-term management of the village’s natural environment, ensuring all activities remain aligned with company policies, legislative requirements and Center Parcs’ commitment to delivering high environmental standards for guests and wildlife alike.
Colin McKinlay, chief executive of Center Parcs, said, “Advertising the first role at Center Parcs Scottish Borders is an important milestone, and it is fitting that this first appointment is focused on conservation. The Senior Conservation Ranger will play a key role from the earliest stages of construction, helping to ensure our forestry, biodiversity, ecological and environmental commitments are delivered to the high standards we expect across all our villages.
“Center Parcs has a strong track record in caring for the habitats in which we operate, and we are proud to have been awarded The Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark Award for 20 consecutive years, recognising our work to actively protect and enhance biodiversity across our sites.
“Center Parcs Scottish Borders will be developed with a long-term responsibility to people, place and nature firmly in mind, and we are looking forward to welcoming our first new colleague in Scotland.”
Center Parcs has a dedicated team of conservation rangers working across its six existing villages in the UK and Ireland. At Whinfell Forest, near Penrith in Cumbria, the company has established one of only 16 official red squirrel refuges in the UK, with red squirrel sightings increasing by 24 per cent, from 174 in 2024 to 215 in 2025.
Connor Brown, senior conservation ranger at Whinfell Forest, added, “Working as the Senior Conservation Ranger at Center Parcs is a role filled with challenges, rewards and importance. There is nowhere else that offers the level of conservation work and ecological diversity that Center Parcs does.
“The ecology sector often means ecologists and conservationists specialise in one or a small number of species. However, the role at Center Parcs allows us to work across multiple species, from badgers to dragonflies, butterflies to wildfowl, botanicals to newts, and, here at Whinfell Forest, all things red squirrel. This level of versatility and diversity is what makes the role fun and extremely rewarding.
“Habitat creation is also a huge part of the role, and to see your efforts pay off through survey data showing an increase in species richness demonstrates that the hard work we do here has a positive impact on the ecosystem. The interface between people and nature that Center Parcs provides is unique to the company and this job role, and it shows that this relationship can have a positive impact on ecosystems and the wildlife within them.
“Overall, Center Parcs is a company that values the importance of biodiversity and the environment, while also supporting colleagues with further training and development. It is a massively rewarding role and one where you know you are doing the right thing for the environment.”
