Residential Volunteer - Forsinard
RSPB
When: available from August 30th
Commitment: Up to six months
Why We Want You:
At Forsinard we manage the largest (and still expanding) RSPB reserve in the UK. We undertake a variety of survey and monitoring programmes all year round, some of which even extend into the neighbouring areas of the Flow country. We are looking for an enthusiastic residential volunteer to assist with our busy habitat restoration and monitoring programme, wildlife surveys and practical management works. There may also be the opportunity to get involved in community and outreach work and visits.
What’s In It For You:
This is a top opportunity to get experience in managing a nature reserve on a landscape scale. We manage nearly 20,000 ha of ground at Forsinard, where we undertake large scale habitat restoration.
You will do survey work, which includes habitat restoration monitoring, pre-felling forestry survey work, conifer re-generation monitoring, and more.
You will also be involved in practical estate management, such as native tree tending, rush management and non native conifer tree re-generation control.
You will learn about bog ecology, plants and hydrology, as well as the bird life. The longer you stay here the more opportunity you will have to get involved with a variety of surveys, data management and analysis. An interest in computers and GIS is desirable.
This is a good opportunity to learn about a variety of aspects of reserve management as we are only a small team of staff.
Requirements:
You will need to be at least 18 yrs old, preferably with a clean driving licence and have a keen interest in conservation. You will feel equally comfortable whether you are roaming around the reserve on your own all day or working in a small busy office on data entry and management.
You need to have plenty of enthusiasm and flexibility and be able to walk long distances over bogs and moorland, working outdoors in all weathers. The ability to work on your own in a remote area and as part of a small, flexible team is essential as you may occasionally be asked to volunteer extra hours. Some map and compass navigation skills are desirable. You will be living in our purpose built field centre opened in autumn 2016, in a flat shared with other volunteers and may be working different hours, so consideration and cooperation are important, as well as previous experience and enjoyment of communal living.
Notes:
Accommodation (including utility bills) is provided.
Appropriate training will be provided and expenses will be re-imbursed where necessary.
Please apply as soon as possible.
For more information please contact:
Claire Foot-Turner (Warden)
About RSPB
The RSPB is a charity for the conservation of birds and nature. We bring people together who love birds and other wildlife, and who want to take action to restore the health and diversity of the natural world. We carry out conservation on a large scale, protect and restore habitats, and save species from extinction. We’re living in a nature and climate emergency, and we won’t stop whilst the threats persist.
We believe our work makes a real difference to the world we live in. It takes a great team to
save nature and we need a wide range of skills to make it happen.
As an RSPB employee, you will be helping to save nature every time you come to work. There’s never been a more important time to protect our wildlife and wild places, so we want to make sure you feel rewarded for everything you help us to achieve.
The RSPB is a charity for the conservation of birds and nature. We bring people together who love birds and other wildlife, and who want to take action to restore the health and diversity of the natural world. We carry out conservation on a large scale, protect and restore habitats, and save species from extinction. We’re living in a nature and climate emergency, and we won’t stop whilst the threats persist. We believe our work makes a real difference to the world we live in. It takes a great team to save nature and we need a wide range of skills to make it happen. As an RSPB employee, you will be helping to save nature every time you come to work. There’s never been a more important time to protect our wildlife and wild places, so we want to make sure you feel rewarded for everything you help us to achieve.
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