Practical Reserve Work (Residential Volunteer - North Kent Marshes (5 Months))

Overview:

We are looking for 3 enthusiastic individuals to join our residential volunteer programme at North Kent Marshes. The positions will start March 9th 2026 and run for 5 months until August 14th. Accommodation is provided free of charge. As part of the reserve team, you will help to manage four lowland wet grassland sites, collectively known as the North Kent Marshes, which play a pivotal role in the landscape connectivity of the southeast coast. You’ll gain hands-on experience and play a part in improving how the reserves are managed for the diverse range of wildlife they support.

Where will you be working?

You will be working across 4 reserves: Northward Hill, Cliffe Pools, Shorne Marshes and Higham Marshes.

What’s in it for you?

The reserve work programme will provide a wide range of opportunities for you to develop your knowledge and skills in conservation. You will get to work on a range of habitats that may include grazing marsh, reedbed, woodland, saline lagoon and estuarine habitats. The work is very varied and will allow you to gain a wealth of experience necessary for pursuing a career in nature conservation.

Placement overview:

From the start of your placement, you will be monitoring the presence of predators using trail cameras. You will also be involved in general estate maintenance, e.g. fence maintenance & gate repairs, track repairs and trail checks. This will continue throughout the placement.

From mid-March until June, breeding bird surveys (BBS) will take up most of your time, with productivity surveys beginning in May, continuing until no more unfledged chicks are noted.

From late June to August, you will be mainly carrying out estate maintenance.

The placement is likely to also involve the following:

• Use of in-house GIS software (Merlin) to input data.

• Learning about key reserve management topics such as cross-compliance, agri-environment schemes, hydrology and management planning.

• Practical management of wet grassland to benefit a range of species, including spraying herbicide to maintain electric predator fences.

• Attending formal accredited training as required by the role – e.g. ATV & 4x4.

• Working with regular volunteers and running volunteer work party days.

Career Development:

Throughout this programme you will develop the skills and knowledge that are vital for a successful career in conservation. We will support your career development by creating a personal development plan which we’ll check in with through regular one to one meeting. We can also help you with application writing and career coaching. Many previous volunteers have been successful in gaining paid employment with the RSPB and other conservation organisations after this programme. Lantra / City & Guilds training will also be supplied where needed.

Accommodation:

Accommodation is provided free of charge on the Northward Hill Reserve, with household bills and amenities included. Each residential volunteer will have their own room in the house, with a shared bathroom, kitchen and living spaces. Northward Hill is quite isolated so your own car would be useful but not essential. The nearest supermarkets are located 5 miles away.

Your Skills:

This is a voluntary position. You must be over 18 with a full clean driving license. We are seeking individuals who have the energy, enthusiasm and desire to succeed in a career in conservation. Some experience of bird survey techniques and identification is desirable, general knowledge of wildlife is useful. Some experience in estate maintenance is also desirable but not essential. You must be prepared to undertake physical work outside in all weathers.

Your Time:

The programme will run from March 9th 2026 to August 14th 2026.

How to Apply:

To apply for this role please click the buttons on the right hand-side of this page. The online application form has a question in the ‘About You’ section asking why you have applied for the role. Please complete this like you would a covering letter, for example letting us know a bit about you and why you would make a good candidate.

Thank you for reading this role description. Clicking on ‘more about this role’ and the downloadable PDF will give you the generic role profile for this opportunity and may not be an exact fit to the role described above. Therefore, if you have any specific questions feel free to email Cameron Restarick - Estate Worker Cameron.restarick@rspb.org.uk.

Deadline for applications is 4th Feb 2026. Interviews will be held week commencing 9th Feb 2026.