Where – RSPB St Aidan’s and RSPB Fairburn Ings, living in Fairburn, North Yorkshire.

When – Starting in October, for 6-12 months.

Why we want you - We are looking for two enthusiastic individuals to join the warden teams at St Aidan’s and Fairburn Ings as long-term residential volunteers. We want one person for each site to help manage these important wetland reserves, which are home to some of the UK’s rarest breeding birds such as black-necked grebe and spoonbill, as well as a fantastic array of other wetland species such as bittern, bearded tit, lapwing and common tern.

What’s in it for you – this is a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to start a career in nature conservation. St Aidan’s is a fairly new RSPB site, but it has a rapidly growing reputation for delivering amazing outcomes for nature and people. Fairburn Ings is more established and has a large heronry where spoonbills breed, wet woodland that is still home to the rapidly disappearing willow tit and a wetland network that attracts a nocturnal population of feeding otters. Both sites have close links to the mining history of the area and are active washlands for the river Aire.

Throughout the duration of the placement, you will gain –

• First-hand experience of the day-to-day management of a wetland reserve.
• Experience in the variety of practical skills required to maintain an RSPB reserve.
• Experience in different monitoring methods, such as the breeding birds survey, moth trapping and butterfly transects.
• Training on proper tool use, including power tools. Some professional machinery training, such as brush cutter, will be provided.
• An opportunity to work with, and supervise, our volunteer teams.
• A chance to absorb and share knowledge from working with a large team of like-minded people working and volunteering in nature conservation.
• Free accommodation in our recently renovated house in the village of Fairburn, which is right next to RSPB Fairburn Ings.

Requirements –

• Enthusiasm for the role
• An ability to work as part of a team
• Some experience of practical conservation work
• An interest in nature conservation
• A full, clean driving licence
• Candidates will ideally have their own vehicle or be willing to commute on one of our bicycles.

You will need to be at least 18 years old for this role. You must be prepared to work outside in all weathers to complete physically demanding tasks and walk long distances. Some weekend, early morning and evening work may be required. The usual working pattern is Mon-Fri, 9-5 but there is some flexibility with this.

Notes – we will be looking to interview applicants for this role at the latest mid-September, either face to face or online. Please complete applications as soon as you can as if we have a strong enough field we may interview early. If have any questions regarding this application, please contact Andrew Tiffany on [email protected] or 07864 948760 for St Aidan’s or Rachael Tulloch on [email protected] or 07719079173 for Fairburn Ings