Estate Worker

We are looking for an enthusiastic and practical person to help deliver a program of estate and conservation work at our Leighton Moss and Morcambe Bay Reserves, based at RSPB Leighton Moss in the beautiful Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape. This reserve comprises around 360ha of priority habitats, supporting some of the UK’s scarcest birds, butterflies and plants, including reedbed, saltmarsh, freshwater lagoons, wet grassland, calcareous grassland, limestone scrub and woodland. Additionally, the wider reserve area includes some 2600ha of intertidal mud. The reserves encompass seven sites each unique in its habitat, species and management requirements.

What's the role about? 

The estate worker will be required to work across all of our reserves carrying out practical tasks to help maintain the variety of habitats and infrastructure, including scrub and reedbed management, fencing, path and hide repairs and the general upkeep of the reserves. Leighton Moss can attract around 100,000 visitors per year, and so the visitor infrastructure including a hide, paths, screens and viewpoints will need to be regularly maintained to a high standard by the post holder.

They will be expected to be able to work both independently and as part of a team of staff and volunteers to deliver our ambitious annual work programme. Therefore, as well as a wide set of practical skills, the post holder will also need to be a good team worker with good communication, organisational and inter-personal skills. Competency in administration tasks and computer use would be an advantage.

The successful applicant will join a varied and dynamic reserve team working with the Wardens, as well as alongside our visitor team, and will need to be adaptable to undertake work as required.  The timing of the work during the week will be flexible, though some tasks will need to be specifically timed to fit in with other staff and work requirements.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience: 

• You will have knowledge and experience of delivering practical land management
• You will have knowledge and experience of practical estate and infrastructure management, maintenance and repair.
• Knowledge of operating and maintaining machinery, vehicles, tools and equipment to agreed standards
• You will have a proven track record of working and completing work alone and working within a varied team of staff and volunteers
• Good communication skills
• A manual driving licence that is valid in the UK, allowing you to drive RSPB fleet vehicles on UK public road

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Lantra or equivalent qualifications in using practical equipment such as brushcutter, chainsaw, and tractor
• First Aid certificate
• Implementing and updating health and safety records and assessments
• Knowledge/understanding of nature conservation and habitat management
• Experience of working with livestock

This is a Permanent Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week. 

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 11th August 2025. For further information please contact [email protected] 

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes.