Graduate Placement Volunteer

Graduate Placement Volunteer

Posted for Naturezones

Posted by Isle of Wight Volunteer Centre

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You will be redirected to the Isle of Wight Volunteer Centre website to express your interest.

Graduate Volunteer Placement. About The Role - Volunteers are integral to the running of our reserve and without their help we wouldn’t be able to. Maintaining and managing a nature reserve requires a lot of practical, hands-on physical tasks. With training and guidance, you’ll be part of a small and dedicated support team that cares for a variety of habitats in all weathers, to help keep our reserve open for the public. Your role will be to provide regular support to the team in all practical reserve management tasks, maintain habitats, increase species biodiversity and ensure the reserve and grounds areas are functioning at their best for our visitors. You will help us promote, produce and execute educational activities and projects that occur through the year. You'll be an essential part of the team. Due to the nature of and training for this role, we are looking for a commitment of at least 3 months but terms of up to a year are available. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview and a chance to see the reserve and our work we do. If you are interested in volunteering for Naturezones, please email and enclose your cV and cover letter to [email protected]

About Us We run a small nature reserve and field study centre. We work with all community groups including Home Educators, college students, unemployed and other vulnerable people. We have several education and support programs that cover the national curriculum for primary schools. Our amazing volunteers help us to manage the nature reserve. We are a place for parents who want to spend quality time with their children and a safe place for the over 60's to visit. There are very few places now across England, that you can listen to how a meadow should sound, and see meadow wildlife where it should be found, you can do it here!

• Feel good knowing you are helping to restore nature and work with like minded nature enthusiasts • Hear from the people who inject their energy, passion and expertise into nature - talks, walks, health and wellness events, art courses, nature events, tea and cake...

Practicalities Where will you be based? Blackwater, Isle of Wight PO30 3BP Who will you volunteer with? Conservation Volunteer Team – led by Reserve Manager Time commitment? We are looking for volunteers who can ideally commit to Thursday, Saturday or Sunday on n a regular basis. Shifts days are 10:30am and finish at 3.30pm. However, we will mutually agree the hours that you can contribute. We want your volunteering to be a positive and fun experience. You’ll get a warm welcome, including information on training, equipment and other information you need. This will include risk assessments based on your role and any particular support you need. You’ll need to be able to get yourself there and back. Information on locations can be found on our Naturezones websitel.

What skills do I need?

About You This an ideal role for a graduate with a can-do attitude and are happy to help us in all weathers, being both a practical person and physically fit. This role is for you if you have or are looking to gain experience in habitat management and have a keenness to learn and enjoy working in a close-working team. The ability to work under your own initiative and being self-motivated is also needed. Main tasks include:

• supporting staff and other volunteers with the management and maintenance of meadows, willow coppices, scrapes, ditches, and hedges, ensuring that the reserve is maintained and managed appropriately with activities including pruning, pollarding and fencing

• assisting with the maintenance of access routes as well as fences, footpaths and building structures such as our education buildings and hide. You will be working with a variety of hand tools safely and correctly, observing and applying health and safety regulations at all times

• taking due care for the safety, welfare and enjoyment of the visiting public

• helping us to continue to promote, produce and execute our education programmes to schools and interested groups of all ages

• gain practical experience when using ecological techniques such as habitat mapping and improve your survey skills taking part in monitoring our flora and fauna to build up long term assessments of how the reserve is increasing biodiversity.