Residential Training Placement (Agricultural Residential Training Placement / Lleoliad Hyfforddi Preswyl)

This RSPB Agricultural 5-month Residential Training Placement is designed to provide you with the training, experience, skills, and knowledge required to pursue a career in nature friendly, sustainable farming.

You will be provided with a wide range of practical skills in a variety of habitats on the reserve and on Vyrnwy’s organic farm. You will be working with the Farm team 3 days a week and our Conservation team 2 days a week to gain a balanced and broad understanding on how farming and conservation work together. Alongside this you will have the opportunity to complete a series of modules on sustainable upland agriculture which will broaden your knowledge and understanding of nature friendly farming and equip you for a career in this area.

The completion of a training portfolio will allow you to record and subsequently demonstrate your learning to potential employers. On-site accommodation including household bills will be provided free of charge. There is a monthly bursary payment available to help with living expenses and travel (kindly funded by the National Lottery Community Fund).

Vyrnwy’s farm, Ty Llwyd, is the biggest organic farm in England and Wales with 2000 Welsh Mountain ewes, and 600 lambs. The farm also run a herd of Welsh Black Cattle and 56 Carneddau upland ponies.
Lake Vyrnwy has a range of vital habitats including blanket bog, dry heath, acid grassland, and ffridd.

Sustainable agriculture has a key role to play in enabling the protection of habitats, increasing biodiversity, protecting the soil, and improving carbon sequestration. We want you to feel part of the team managing Vyrnwy’s special places whilst you are gaining essential skills for your future career in sustainable agriculture.

The tasks included in our training placement include a wide range of topics including animal husbandry, sustainable land management of upland and enclosed habitats, species surveying, grazing in the uplands, and natural capital.

A manual driving licence is essential for this role due to the nature of work required and accessing some remote sites.

Minimum age ideally 18 but 17 will be considered with a manual driving licence and the right attitude.

A bursary is included during your training to help with cost of living.

We are open to conversations from anyone who thinks they will suit this role but cannot commit to the full 5 days/week due to studies, we are open to flexibility here so please feel free to contact us.

At the moment, this opportunity is open to UK residents only.