Residential Volunteer, Insh Marshes
RSPB
Available from 02/08/2025 to 11/04/2026
These are fantastic opportunities to volunteer at the biggest and best example of a natural floodplain in Britain. Insh Marshes reserve is flanked by the stunning Cairngorm and Monadhliath mountain ranges and is home to a fantastic array of wildlife, including breeding waders, goldeneye, spotted crake and osprey. It is nationally important for its floodplain habitats, is a SSSI, SAC, SPA and Ramsar, sits within the Cairngorms National Park and supports one of the most important populations of breeding waders in mainland UK as part of the incredible Badenoch and Strathspey floodplain. Insh Marshes is part of Cairngorms Connect, our long-term vision is to reconnect the rivers with the floodplain, we have a number of ambitious projects planned for the coming years which will transform the reserve.
When
Two placements available: one from August 2nd and the other from November 29th 2025.
What we’re looking for
These long-term residential placements are an ideal opportunity for someone with an aspiration to work in the conservation sector. With four full time staff members on the 1030 ha reserve, long term residential volunteers become vital members of the team assisting with, and implementing, the reserve management plan on this internationally important site. We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic individuals with an interest in conservation and wildlife. It is important that you are a responsible and mature individual, and happy living and working as part of small team. Some lone working would be expected.
The skills you need
Enthusiasm, ability to work as part of a team and on your own, ability to carry out strenuous manual labour, interest in conservation. You need to be at least 18 years old and have a full clean driving licence, able to drive both manual and automatic vehicles.
Your time
Ideally 6 – 12 months. Please enquire if you are interested but unsure how long you can commit. Although these are full-time positions, we anticipate the need to be flexible to allow volunteers to seek part time work or claim financial support to fund these positions if needed.
What’s in it for you
During your stay, you will become a member of the reserve management team with free accommodation including bills. You will have your own bedroom but share communal areas between the three long-term residential volunteers. You will contribute to practical conservation and learn about running and managing a nature reserve. Opportunities for long-term volunteers to manage volunteers and lead their own work projects will be provided. Long-term placements at Insh Marshes are an excellent opportunity for those wishing to pursue a career in conservation and reserve management.
Appropriate support, training and career development will be provided depending on the length of placement. You will gain a valuable insight into the workings of Europe's largest conservation charity. These roles will be centered around carrying out practical land management work - please note, this work can be strenuous, involve walking across rough terrain and working outdoors in all weathers. Tasks include habitat and species management involving cutting and burning willow scrub on the marsh, invasive non-native plant species management, estate management including path maintenance and fencing, visitor facility up keep, bridge maintenance/building, stock handling skills with our herd of Koniks, leading on the reserve health and safety checks and recording, and survey and monitoring (particularly during the spring). Depending on the skills of individual volunteers, this includes woodland and marshland bird surveys.
For more information please contact:
Julie Ellis (Warden)
01540661 518
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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