Site Checks and Maintenance Volunteer (Volunteer Warden)

We need Volunteer Wardens (also known as Site Check and Maintenance Volunteers) to help look after our reserves. We currently have afternoon shifts available on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays either fortnightly, every 3 weeks or every 4 weeks, and morning shifts on Fridays, every 4 weeks. Please contact us at otmoor.admin@rspb.org.uk for more details.

Otmoor’s Volunteer Wardens play a vital role in ensuring that we maintain a site presence on the ground as much as possible. Our Volunteer Wardens are the key interface between the RSPB and visitors to our reserve. They make people feel welcome, can talk enthusiastically about the reserve, its history and the birds and wildlife it supports, record wildlife and visitor numbers, and enforce the rules where appropriate.

Our nature reserves are very special places for people and wildlife. Right across the UK the RSPB manages woodlands and wetlands, heathlands and meadows. A real mosaic of different kinds of habitats for a wide range of wildlife. Nestled close to Oxford city, Otmoor is a haven from the hustle and bustle of modern life, where wildlife and tranquillity reign. One of the largest inland wetland complexes in the country, Otmoor is home to a huge amount of wildlife, rare species and impressive wildlife spectacles.

We like to have volunteers out on the reserve every day of the week, walking the reserve and undertaking a selection of key roles including:

• Talking to members of the public about the reserve and the wildlife they might see.

• Checking paths, fences and benches and reporting any issues.

• Litter picking.

• Dealing with and reporting inappropriate behaviour.

• Reporting any issues back to the site team.

• Recording bird and wildlife sightings.

• Recording visitor numbers using the site.

Training and support will be provided but for this role the following are essential:

• Excellent attention to detail.

• Good 'people skills', including diplomacy.

• Some wildlife knowledge, or willing to learn about wildlife.

• Problem solving skills.

This is a really rewarding role, where we value your enthusiasm as well as your knowledge. You will enjoy performing your role in a beautiful wildlife rich setting, the great outdoors will be your place of work and you will be able to take it at your own pace. By talking to visitors as you go along, you'll have the pleasure of helping people learn more about the reserve and the work of the RSPB, or just be a familiar friendly face to our regulars.

You will be making a genuine contribution to nature conservation, and you might find it rewarding to safeguard nature in the area you are working to protect. This role will involve a reasonable amount of physical activity, so it will enable you to keep your fitness levels high.

This is a public-facing role requiring lone-working, and because of the remoteness of our reserve it is not suitable for Under 16s. Under 18s would need to be accompanied by an appropriate adult.

Image: Lapwing by Bob Edwards