What you’ll be doing

Imagine waking up in a morning and being able to help with the management and restoration of some of our most beautiful nature reserves, where no two days are the same. 

Working with a skilled and knowledgeable East Berkshire team of employees, volunteers and other trainees delivering a programme of works across our East Berks reserves, from heathland habitats boasting adders, dartford warblers and nightjars which can be seen at Wildmoor Heath, Padworth Common and Broadmoor.

There are the ancient woodlands of Moor Copse where you will find hazel dormice benefitting from traditional woodland management techniques, and an array of butterflies feeding in the rich floodplain meadows along the River Pang.

We work alongside our livestock of Dexter Cows, Beulah and Hebridean sheep who all graze our sites.

Purpose of this role:

• To assist the Reserve Officer with the management of the heathland, woodland and floodplain meadow habitats.

• To gain the necessary certified qualifications and experience to land a conservation role after one year of training.

Type of work and experience gained:

• Develop your skills assisting with the care and management of our Livestock of sheep and cattle, including regular stock checks, moving stock around the site and habitat grazing management

• Develop your habitat conservation knowledge through working with the team on work parties, such as heathland birch removal, holly thinning in woodland and bracken control  

• Develop skills on how to maintain site infrastructure and boundary fences

• Progress to leading regular volunteer groups on habitat management works

• Learn about hand tools and their uses for practical tasks and maintenance

• Chance to undertake machinery qualifications and training for chainsaw

• Improve your species ID skills with training days with the ecology team

• Assisting visitor engagement with guided walks and events

Conservation is a competitive field, and it can be hard to show that you have the experience needed to land your first job. If you have a real desire to work in this rewarding and satisfying field, but need to boost your skills and experience, a volunteer Wildlife Trainee position with BBOWT may be the perfect role for you.

With a mix of hands-on experience, role-specific training, and qualifications, our traineeships have a long track record of success in preparing trainees to get into paid employment. Directly moving into roles such as Assistant Reserve Officer a Wildlife Trust, Warden at RSPB and Ranger positions in local authorities.

Who you are:

• Dedicated and passionate about joining our mission to put nature into recovery.

• Keen to learn and develop with a can-do approach, whatever the weather!

• Happy to get hands-on with power tools and machinery.

• Team player, able to work collaboratively and inclusively whilst building excellent working relationships.

• Full of energy and enthusiasm to motivate and lead teams of volunteers (training provided).

What you’ll have:

• A passion for helping nature and being outdoors.

• A positive attitude.

• A good level of physical fitness and strength.

• Problem solving skills and able to use your own initiative.

• Good communication skills

• Full, manual UK car driving licence with at least one years’ experience.

Ideally some experience of working or volunteering doing outdoor work.

Time Commitment:

Three days a week for 12 months: Tuesday – Thursday 8:30 – 16:30

Benefits:

A substantial amount of training and experience is provided including externally certified training in:

• Outdoor First Aid Level 2 plus Forestry,

• BORDA Basic 4x4 Driving

• NPTC Level 2 Award in Chainsaw: Cross-cutting, Maintenance & Felling Trees up to 380mm.

In addition to this, a programme of in-house training is provided including:

• Leading Practical Groups

• Tool Maintenance

• Brush cutter use and maintenance

• Driver awareness

• Ecology Surveying Days Out

Expenses payable:

Limited travel expenses available for travel from home to Woolley Firs.

Recruitment Timelines:

Closing date: Thursday 23rd January 23:59

Provisional Interview date: Wednesday 5th February

When you will be asked to start: 1st or 2nd Week of March 2025

Days we ask you to be available: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8.30am – 4.30pm.

For further information please follow the links below to the role descriptions and if you would like an informal chat about any of these opportunities, please contact Joseph Bristow josephbristow@bbowt.org.uk

This trainee role will be DBS checked at basic level.