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. 

The traineeship will give you a broad range of experience across different habitats on reserves, including looking after livestock, working with power tools and machinery, practical site maintenance, outdoor nature conservation work and carrying out species surveys. 

One of the key areas will be leading, managing and supporting volunteer reserve work parties who play a vital role in the conservation of our nature reserves.

We know it’s challenging in today’s economic climate to find employment, a placement year opportunity or to change careers.  That’s why we offer people who are passionate about supporting our vision to restore nature the opportunity to gain qualifications and hands-on experience we know will help them achieve their environmental conservation career aspirations.

Purpose of this role

To assist the Reserve Officer with the management of Warburg Nature reserve, and 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

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

• Preferably a full, manual UK car driving licence with at least 1 years’ experience.

• Ideally some experience of working or volunteering doing outdoor work.

Who you’ll be:

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

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

• Someone who is happy to get hands-on with power tools and machinery.

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

• Be full of energy and enthusiasm to motivate and lead teams of volunteers (training provided)

What you’ll get:

• A comprehensive training package to support you in your volunteer role, including:

-NPTC Chainsaw, Felling & Cross Cutting Certificate

-Basic BORDA 4x4 course

-First Aid at Work & Forestry Qualification

-Leadership training

-Driver Awareness

-Tool Maintenance

-Brushcutter training

-Volunteer Management training.

• Invaluable skills and experience to build the foundations for your future career or progression as a volunteer.

• An opportunity to help restore nature in a tangible way.

• Travel expenses (as per our policy)

• Networking opportunities within the environmental sector at BBOWT and across The Wildlife Trusts nationally.

• A skilled and knowledgeable mentor to support your learning and development journey.

• Support to help you with next steps after your traineeship.

• An amazing welcoming team with which to 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 Warburg

Recruitment Timelines

Closing date: Sunday 16 March 23:59

Provisional Interview date: Tuesday 25 March

When you will be asked to start: April-July 2025

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

For further information or to arrange an informal chat about this opportunity, please contact Warden Kelly Hedges kellyhedges@bbowt.org.uk

This trainee role will be DBS checked at basic level.