Residential on Reserve (More than 4 weeks) (Long term placement - Saltholme)

Duration six months

Why We Want You

We are looking for enthusiastic residential volunteers to join our team. You will be volunteering at the North East's flagship reserve helping species such as breeding lapwing, sand martin, garganey and yellow wagtail. You may assist with the monitoring and management for locally significant populations of water vole and harvest mice. You will undertake all aspects of habitat management, survey and monitoring, estate management and species protection - depending on the time of the year, and will be able to broaden your skills and experience to help towards a possible career in conservation.

What’s In It For You

Residential Volunteers at Saltholme become fully fledged team members, working alongside staff and other volunteers. You will gain first hand experience of the daily operation of a wetland reserve through a whole range of activities including tern island management for the county's largest inland common tern colony, wet grassland and reedbed management and maintaining dragonfly ponds.

You will be given training as appropriate and development in all the necessary skills to enable you to become competent to a level that will assist you in a career in conservation. This will include organising and leading volunteer teams.

You will gain first hand knowledge of the workings of Europe's largest conservation charity whilst working on one of England's newest and most successful nature reserves.

Requirements

You must be at least 18 years old, with a full clean driving licence. You should be enthusiastic and have the ability to live and work as part of a close-knit team. An interest in wildlife, the environment and its conservation is essential. Tasks to be undertaken depend on the time of year and you should be prepared to undertake strenuous manual labour outside in all weathers. A degree of flexibility is required, as weekend working on a rota will be necessary, with time off during the week.

Notes

Accommodation (including bills) is provided in a spacious first floor flat with views of the sea.