Practical Reserve Work (Saturdays at Lochwinnoch)

We are looking for a Practical Volunteer to join us on our Lochwinnoch reserve. RSPB nature reserves are special places for people and wildlife and we rely on volunteers to keeps these habitats thriving and in good shape.

We are looking for a volunteer who would be available to volunteer one day a week from 9.30am-4.00pm on a Saturday. (This role is suitable for over 18’s only.) Please only apply if you can come in on Saturdays! Ideally, applicants should live within 25 miles of Lochwinnoch and should be able to commit to weekly attendance for at least 6 months.

It might seem like these wild places have always just been there. But quite often we have to work really hard to maintain habitats to be in the best condition for wildlife. We have lost a lot of wild landscapes, so the small places that we do have, need a bit of extra care.

As a practical volunteer you will be undertaking practical tasks at RSPB Lochwinnoch:

Walking the Trails performing health and safety checks. Cutting and clearing vegetation. Maintaining and managing tools and equipment. Creating and maintaining visitor infrastructure, such as paths and benches. Following annual work plans. Following Health and Safety protocols. Interacting with the public to minimise disturbance to the wildlife.

You will receive support but you will, at times, be working alone during the shift. We have a lone working procedure to keep you safe.

If you enjoy being outdoors, meeting new people and hands on conservation work, then this role could be the perfect opportunity for you. This role does involve a reasonable amount of physical activity, so will enable you to keep your fitness levels high, as well as helping your mental health and well-being. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a genuine contribution to nature conservation, and you might find it rewarding to safeguard nature in the area you are working to protect.

We are a friendly and supportive team. If you are volunteering to learn new skills and gain knowledge about wildlife conservation work, you will find that our team will be more than happy to help you on that journey. The ability to use a screwdriver, hammer and hand-saw would be an advantage.

Please disregard the downloadable attachment in this advertisement and the More section. It is not relevant to the role.