Residential on Reserve (More than 4 weeks) (6-12 months Wardening Placement- RSPB Dee Estuary)

Flexible Start Date

All applicants must be over the age of 18 and hold a full clean driver's license.

Key Tasks:

Assist Warden staff with Key reserve management:

-Habitat management: Wet grassland, Reedbed, Saltmarsh, woodland

• Bird monitoring: Productivity surveys, WeBS, roost surveys, Breeding Bird surveys,

• Biological monitoring: other fauna and flora

• Volunteer management including work parties

• Little tern Project- Point of Ayr

• Estate work- A wide variety of infrastructure repair tasks.

• Health and safety recording

• Drive company vehicles

Key Skills

• Good practical aptitude

• Experience in use of hand tools

• Good ecological knowledge

• Conscientious eye for detail

• Basic Bird ID skills

• Leadership ability

• Friendly, outgoing personality

• Strong belief in RSPB’s mission

Why We Want You:

The Dee Estuary is one of the RSPB’s largest and most up and coming reserves; after modest beginnings over 40 years ago, in the past decade, we have flourished with the development of Burton Mere Wetlands where more than 200 pairs of breeding waders thrive and nearly 50,000 annual visitors come to enjoy the rich and varied wildlife. With satellite sites at Parkgate, Point of Ayr and Woolston Eyes to also manage, the small staff team need support from residential volunteers in order to keep on top of everything and be able to continually improve the reserve for both wildlife and visitors. Our residential volunteers are key members of the reserve team.

What’s In It For you:

If you’re seeking a career in conservation specifically to start your career as an Assistant warden/ Estate worker, this placement is perfect for you. You will gain priceless experience of practical reserve management and on top of all of that, you get to live in well-equipped accommodation in the heart of a truly special nature reserve with egrets out of the living room window, a badger hide on your doorstep and boasting some of the best sunsets in the country.

A residential volunteer placement here through spring and summer will gain you experience in the conservation of iconic birds including avocets, marsh harriers and one of the countries largest egrets plus red-listed species including lapwings and little terns. Working outdoors the majority of the time, you’ll be immersed in rich warbler song, brilliant wildflowers and a host of dazzling insects. Plus, you’ll have exclusive access to explore the reserve from dawn till dusk, long before and after any visitors arrive.

If you choose to stay on into the Autumn and winter you will gain the opportunity to hone your practical habitat management skills rounding of your experience and your CV perfectly.

Appropriate training will be provided and expenses available

-LANTRA Brush cutter/Strimmer training ticket

-St Johns ambulance 3-day First aid at work training.

-Extensive structured in-house training

-A focus on independent self-lead work getting you job ready.

-Career support, interview practice and advice, support with applications.

A great start to your career in the conservation sector, a high success rate in previous residential volunteers securing full-time paid work in the conservation sector.

Notes

The RSPB is the UK charity working to secure a healthy environment for birds and wildlife, helping to create a better world for all of us. We belong to BirdLife International, the global partnership of bird conservation organisations. Your time and skills could make a real difference to the work of the RSPB and it would be great if you could join us.