Residential on Reserve (More than 4 weeks) (Residential volunteer in East Devon, 6-12 months)

Why We Want You:

Are you looking to get into working in the practical conservation sector? We are looking for people to join our team for 6 months to a year.

The RSPB’s East Devon Reserves Team, based at Aylesbeare Common, is looking for enthusiastic residential volunteers, keen to work with us and learn from us, and dedicate their careers to nature conservation. We manage lowland heathland, mostly within the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths SSSI, a 1200Ha National Nature Reserve. It supports rare and specialist species: birds such as Dartford warblers and nightjars but also reptiles and invertebrates such as the Southern damselfly and the Silver-studded Blue butterfly. The wet and dry heaths are fringed with woodland margins, within which we have pools, ponds, mires and bogs, with fascinating plant communities. Heathland is a rugged and ‘wild’ looking habitat that actually requires a lot of management.

For over 30 years, residential volunteers have been a key part of life at Aylesbeare (and crucial to achieving our very high standard of habitat management). We need your help, hard work and good humour. Much of our work is practical, physical work (especially in the winter when we use chainsaws). In the spring and summer however, those with good bird ID and ecological interests may find their niche here (although there is physical work in the great outdoors all year round). Tasks may involve working with livestock (Exmoor and Dartmoor ponies, and cattle), fencing, gates, bracken management, and leading volunteer work parties.

In spring and early summer, there is much breeding bird survey work and so we welcome applications from those with prior experience of bird surveys and ID. There’s the potential for engagement and events too, especially during Heath Week.

What’s In It For You:

A residential volunteering stint with us can either consolidate existing experience or it will help you find what you’re interested in and what you’re good at. Whatever your prior experience, your time with us will give you the skills and experience that will help you to get a job in nature conservation. During your stay, you will be a key member of our small friendly team, assisting in all aspects of our work. You will learn practical habitat, livestock and estate management skills. You may also have the opportunity to develop skills in surveying and monitoring, leadership and organisation.

This is an excellent chance to make a genuine contribution to conservation. You will gain a valuable insight into the workings of the RSPB, the UK’s largest nature conservation charity. You will get to spend most of your days working outside, on sites across East Devon, and you’ll become extremely fit!

Our accommodation is a Canadian style log cabin which we built 5 years ago from our own felled timber with a biomass boiler, rainwater harvesting and solar array.

Requirements:

You must be keen and proactive, willing to work in a team or on your own. And passionate about wildlife and conservation. Some natural history knowledge and a basic understanding of heathland should demonstrate your interest in nature and conservation, but working for the RSPB does not mean that you have to have been a birder since you were 8 years old. What you must have is a demonstrable passion for the natural world, the ability to undertake strenuous manual labour and be happy to work outdoors in all weathers: this is Devon after all! We are a small, hard-working team. If you’re enthusiastic and resourceful, willing to learn as much as to contribute, we’ll encourage and enable you to get the most out of your experience with us. This role is appropriate for anyone completely new to practical work, but also for those with prior practical or farming experience who are looking to develop their skill set or move into conservation. We would welcome mature applicants or those from different career backgrounds with transferrable skills.

Minimum age 18 and a full clean driving licence is essential. Starting immediately as well as dates throughout the year, please get in touch to discuss.

Notes:

There is no charge to take part in the scheme. It is your responsibility to cover the cost of your transport to and from the reserve, and to provide and cover the cost of your food during your stay. The RSPB will provide accommodation, together with basic services, free of charge for the period you are volunteering, and cover any expenses incurred as a necessary part of your work on the reserve. 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.

Contact Fiona or Gary on 01395 233655 or fiona.daggett@rspb.org.uk