Long-Term Residential (3 months Autumn Wardening Placement- RSPB Dee Estuary)

All applicants must be available for a minimum of 3 months, and able to start no later than August.

All applicants must be over the age of 18 and hold a full clean manual UK driver's license or equivalent.

Key Tasks:

Assist Warden staff with Key reserve management:

-Habitat management: Wet grassland, Reedbed, Saltmarsh, woodland

• Bird monitoring: WeBS, roost surveys.

• Biological monitoring: other fauna and flora

• Volunteer management including work parties

• Estate work- A wide variety of infrastructure repair tasks.

• Health and safety recording

• Drive company vehicles

Key Skills

• Good practical aptitude

• Experience in use of hand tools

• Good ecological knowledge

• Conscientious eye for detail

• Basic Bird ID skills

• Leadership ability

• Friendly, outgoing personality

• Strong belief in RSPB’s mission

Why We Want You:

The Dee Estuary is one of the RSPB’s largest and most up and coming reserves; after modest beginnings over 40 years ago, in the past decade, we have flourished with the development of Burton Mere Wetlands where more than 200 pairs of breeding waders thrive and nearly 50,000 annual visitors come to enjoy the rich and varied wildlife. With satellite sites at Parkgate, Point of Ayr and Woolston Eyes to also manage, the small staff team need support from residential volunteers in order to keep on top of everything and be able to continually improve the reserve for both wildlife and visitors. Our residential volunteers are key members of the reserve team.

What’s In It For you:

If you’re seeking a career in conservation specifically to start your career as an Assistant warden/ Estate worker or similar, this placement is perfect for you. You will gain priceless experience of practical reserve management and on top of all of that, you get to live in well-equipped accommodation in the heart of a truly special nature reserve with egrets out of the living room window, a badger hide on your doorstep and boasting some of the best sunsets in the country.

Solid experience in Habitat management for wet grassland and a good grounding in practical skills.

Appropriate training will be provided and expenses available

-LANTRA Brush cutter/Strimmer training ticket

-St Johns ambulance 3-day First aid at work training.

-Extensive structured in-house training

-A focus on independent self-lead work getting you job ready.

-Career support, interview practice and advice, support with applications.

-Free accommodation.

A great start to your career in the conservation sector or alternatively the finishing touches needed for an experienced individual to get into the conservation sector.

Notes

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. Your time and skills could make a real difference to the work of the RSPB and it would be great if you could join us.