Practical Reserve Work (Assistant Warden Volunteer Placement)

We are looking for an enthusiastic Assistant Warden Volunteer Placements at RSPB, Ribble Reserves! Working alongside and assist with the vital management of our nature reserves across the whole of the Ribble Reserves, including RSPB, Marshside and Hesketh Out Marsh. Our placements help people gain the skills and experience needed to kick start a career in wildlife conservation.

The aim of our placement opportunities is to build skills and to help people gain the experience necessary to assist in taking steps towards a career, primarily in conservation. We are looking for individuals who are interested in saving nature, with the energy and motivation to learn. We are not looking for experts in conservation, or even people with lots of experience - if you are new to the sector, changing careers or looking for a new challenge, this could be for you!

Role description:

This role forms a vital part of the wardening team, helping to implement our reserve management plan. This will involve:

• Learning how to manage habitats such as wet grasslands, saltmarsh (grazed/ungrazed), coastal grazing marsh, mudflats, hedgerows, brackish lagoons and developing fen habitats.

• Biological surveys such as taking part in regular counts and census work of breeding birds including species such as Avocets, Godwits, Redshank, Lapwings, Arctic terns and other breeding wildfowl.

• Carrying out regular day to day activities such as fence checks, water level checks and the safety of reserve infrastructure.

• Monitoring of non-avian taxa e.g. moth trapping, butterfly census, mink, fox and water vole surveys

• Help assist and/or leading regular volunteer work parties and undertaking practical habitat management tasks, such as cutting and clearing vegetation, hedge laying, creating artificial islands and scrapes, scrub control, fencing (electric and stock proof fencing) etc.

• Maintenance of the reserve infrastructure such as fences (including electric fences), gates, stiles, hides, viewing screens, paths and car park.

• Helping the warden manage grazing on site using temporary electric fencing - as well as putting up electric fencing to protect rare breeding birds.

• Assist the warden with the upkeep of the workshop/store areas, maintenance of the machines and tools, responding to any issues and resolving/fixing them.

• Maintaining visitor facilities – including basic cleaning of visitor areas, toilet and litter picking the car park and paths.

• Help with health and safety protocols, such as general record keeping, updating risk assessments, logging volunteer work hours, COSHH and biological data recording and mapping.

• Following annual work plans.

Skills you need

We are looking for an enthusiastic and friendly person who likes a challenge! Previous conservation volunteering experience is not essential, but having a flexible approach to your work is important because every day is different at the Ribble Reserves.

You must be able to get to and from RSPB, Marshside Workshop for the duration of your placement as we are unable to offer onsite accommodation.

The RSPB runs an inclusive volunteer placement scheme, so whether you have just graduated, finished your A Levels and looking for voluntary experience in your gap year or you are looking for a change of career path, we welcome your application. However, we do ask that you meet the following requirements:

The skills required

Essential:

• Enthusiasm for the role
• 18 years old or older
• Be available for 6-12 months
• Minimum 2- 3 days a week
• An interest in conservation
• Being able to spend time outdoors in nature
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Period: Starting March 24th
• Interview date: week commencing 17th March
• Willingness to work occasional weekends

Desirable:

• Some previous experience in practical work
• Volunteering experience
• Basic IT skills
• A full driving license is advantageous but not essential.

You will gain:

• An insight into how a nature reserve functions and how your work fits into the overall management.
• Development of skills necessary for a job in nature conservation.
• A good understanding of wetland ecology and intertidal systems.
• Development of species identification especially lowland wading birds and wildfowl
• Experience of working with others, leadership and communication skills
• A mentor who will work with you to aid a personal development plan and organise suitable training during the internship
• Access to our internal intranet
• An opportunity to make contacts within the RSPB
• Necessary training will be provided for routine nature reserve management.
• Support on CV writing, interview techniques and job applications
• A reference on the successful completion of your placement

Our placements are designed to offer work experience. However, completing a placement unfortunately does not guarantee future employment with the RSPB. Placements can apply for our paid vacancies but for obvious reasons a placement will need to have proven themselves in their current role before their volunteering experience will assist an application for a paid post.