Volunteer Nature Reserves Trainee (Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust)

Here at BBOWT we’ve provided Volunteer Traineeships for over 20 years, honing what we offer to reflect what employers are looking for. Over 80% of our Volunteer Nature Reserves Trainees have, on completion of their traineeship, gone into paid employment and become Reserves Wardens and Officers, Land Managers, Rangers and Ecologists across the conservation sector, or into higher education.

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.

We’re now recruiting our next cohort of Volunteer Nature Reserves Trainees and we have a limited number of these opportunities available in each county.

Each trainee will have a nature reserve they’re based at and will travel to other reserves in the county to experience a broad range of habitats.

Berkshire Volunteer Nature Reserve Trainees are based at:

  • East Berks: Woolley Firs, Berks | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (bbowt.org.uk)

Buckinghamshire Volunteer Nature Reserve Trainees are based at either:

  • South Bucks: College Lake | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (bbowt.org.uk) or
  • North Bucks: Upper Ray Meadows | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (bbowt.org.uk)

Oxfordshire Volunteer Nature Reserve Trainees are based at:

  • Oxon: Chimney Meadows | Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (bbowt.org.uk)

About the Role
Expectation: 12-month placement – 3 days a week (Tues, Weds & Thurs)
Hours: 8.30am – 4.30pm
Start Date: July/August

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.

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
  • 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:

  • 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!
  • 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 assist you in your volunteer role:
  • NPTC Chainsaw, Felling & Cross Cutting Certificate
  • Basic BORDA 4×4 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.
  • Assistance to help you with next steps after your traineeship.
  • An amazing welcoming team to work with

Start Date: July/August

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 the following Reserves Officers:

Berkshire Traineeship
East Berks – Woolley Firs Role Description and Application Link: https://app.beapplied.com/apply/glhvytgsl2
Contact Emma Routledge E: emmaroutledge@bbowt.org.uk

Buckinghamshire Traineeships
South Bucks – College Lake Role Description and Application Link: https://app.beapplied.com/apply/fjnk98ango
Contact: Phil Bruss E: philbruss@bbowt.org.uk

North Bucks – Meadow Farm Role Description and Application Link: https://app.beapplied.com/apply/jtc8byumw5
Contact: Chloe E: chloebradford@bbowt.org.uk

Oxon Traineeship
Oxon – Chimney Meadows Role Description and Application Link: https://app.beapplied.com/apply/jk3qhaus6q
Contact Beth Hall E: bethhall@bbowt.org.uk