Specialist/Expert Volunteer (Machinery Operator - Turtle Dove Foraging Habitat Creation (Cambridgeshire))

Operation Turtle Dove have an exciting new project in Cambridgeshire (outside of reserves) to create and maintain seed-rich foraging habitat for Turtle Doves. We have enthusiastic landowners wanting to provide more habitat for this threatened species but are struggling to do so through a lack of things like access to machinery or time.

This is why we need you! We are looking for passionate volunteers to help create and manage foraging habitat and support this project alongside RSPB staff. We welcome applicants with existing land management skills and experience, if you are willing to learn new practical skills, training will be provided.

This is a flexible and evolving role to help develop this project, expand our impact and support the RSPB’s wider mission to create a world richer in nature. You will become part of our growing Operation Turtle Dove team of staff and volunteers, helping to build a feeling of belonging and being a part of the project and its legacy.

What will you be doing?

You will be supporting the creation and management of seed-rich foraging habitat for Turtle Doves on a wide range of landholdings. This will involve various tasks, including:

• Working in a team to carry out practical work.
• Liaising with landowners to identify suitable areas for habitat creation.
• Associated habitat creation and management tasks.
• Rotavating land to create suitable seed bed.
• Monitoring and recording habitat quality – site dependent.
• Discussing management options with project team and landowners.
• Problem-solving.
• Machinery maintenance.
• Manual handling.
• Following Health and Safety protocol – First Aid training will be provided.

The skills you'll need:

Essential:

• Willingness to learn.
• Motivated to use your skills and expertise to Save Nature.
• Excellent communication skills for engaging with different audiences, internal and external to the RSPB.
• Ability to carry out a reasonable level of physical activity.
• Organisational skills.
• Flexibility – peaks in the Spring and Autumn.
• Full driving license – locations not likely to be easily accessible by public transport.

Optional:

• The relevant experience / qualifications in fields such as horticulture or gardening.
• Knowledge of farming systems.
• Relevant First Aid training.
• IT skills, creating documents, managing spreadsheets.

Please note that we will offer full training and induction.

What's in it for you?

• You will learn all about how the RSPB works and gain experience working for an environmental charity.
• Training to ensure that you are prepared for each task.
• Develop hands on land management experience and skills.
• An opportunity to be out in nature and benefit your own health and wellbeing.
• Meeting like-minded people.
• Opportunities to expand your volunteering beyond the practical work of the project.
• The opportunity to use your skills to make a direct impact for species, nature and the environment.
• The chance to take enjoyment from the natural world by observing wildlife and plant life closely.
• You will be making a genuine contribution to nature conservation, so if that is your motivation, you'll find satisfaction in this role.

Additional information:

Closing date - Friday 20th January 2023.

Interviews - Thursday 26th January 2023 & Friday 27th January 2023.

Training dates expected - February 2023 onwards (TBC).

PLEASE BE AWARE: We are on holiday over Christmas so may not get back to you as swiftly as we would like. We will get back to all applicants in the New Year.

Opportunity photo credit: John Buckingham.