Volunteer Park Ranger

To assist with the management and maintenance of a variety of sites for nature conservation. Ranging from our core site St Nicks Local Nature Reserve, and others such as Rawcliffe Meadows SSSI, Heworth Holme wet grassland and Millennium Fields, which are part of St Nicks’ Green Corridors York project. You will get experience working in a wide range of habitats including urban grasslands, mosaic former brownfield sites, rivers and becks, woodlands and floodplain meadows.

Responsibilities of a Volunteer Park Ranger include:

• Leading and supervising a diverse groups of volunteers in carrying out practical conservation work; planning tasks for both regular and one-off groups and supporting volunteers through training and education
• Reviewing risk assessments and working with volunteers to carry out tasks and use tools safely
• Carrying out regular site checks to record presence of invasive species, monitor young tree growth and issues such as littering and graffiti
• Helping with regular monitoring of species and habitats including plant monitoring, freshwater invertebrate river health surveys and riparian mammals surveying
• Assisting in the development of management plans and work plans
• Leading and assisting on exciting natural habitats projects across a variety of sites and habitats including:
  • developing species and habitat monitoring methodologies
  • helping to create educational resources
  • community engagement
  • assist with green corridors development
• To engage with users of the nature reserve and other local green spaces and help users build a connection to the sites.

Length of Commitment: 6 months

Work days: 3 days per week — Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays plus occasional Sundays

Skills and abilities needed for this role:

• Enthusiasm for wildlife, conservation and the outdoors
• Some experience of leading groups would be beneficial but not essential
• Some experience of practical conservation tasks would be beneficial but not essential
• Friendly and approachable nature with the ability to get along with people from all backgrounds
• Reliable and committed to the role
• Able to use initiative.

Benefits of the role:

• Opportunity to gain experience managing a range of diverse habitats including wildflower meadows, wetlands and woodlands
• Regular supervision and on-going support to help with personal development throughout the role and achieve personal goals
• A chance to learn new skills and gain practical experience as a park ranger, which is very appealing to employers recruiting in this highly competitive sector
• Opportunity to improve skills through on site and external training with other providers as well as in house training
• Opportunity to gain experience working with a wide range of other organisations and project partners including North and East Yorkshire Ecological Data Centre, Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust, Environment Agency, City of York Council, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
• Experience working in a position with important responsibilities including leading teams
• References and help with job applications upon satisfactory completion of role.

Jonathan Dent – Natural Habitats Manager
Phone – 07912432823 / Email - [email protected]