Residential Trainee Warden (Voluntary)

Residential Trainee Wardens – Flat Holm Island Nature Reserve

Flat Holm Island, Bristol Channel, near Cardiff, S Wales

Start dates available from spring 2026

Flat Holm is a small 35 ha uninhabited Welsh island in the Severn Estuary/Bristol Channel just 5 miles from Cardiff Bay. The site is a Local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest with a wealth of heritage including Scheduled Ancient Monuments and Listed Buildings. The island is manned most of the year round and welcomes visitors between March and October for day and overnight visits.

We are looking for enthusiastic committed residential volunteers to join our team. You will work closely with the island Warden, carrying out important reserve monitoring work, managing heritage buildings and structures as well as providing a good visitor experience e.g. guided tours, work parties etc. Roles are based on 37 hours per week and work will take place in all weathers and can at times be challenging including some early mornings or late evenings.

Residential trainee wardens will live and work on the island for a minimum commitment of six months. During this period, individuals must be available to work when the island is open and the island will close at set times throughout the year when the Warden and volunteers will be able to take time off the island. Any time off the island outside of the set times must be with the Wardens agreement and at the individuals expense. A contribution of up to £150 per individual per 6 months towards travel expenses home can be claimed during the set times off island. Individuals are responsible for covering the costs of accommodation when off island.

Tasks will include:

• Wildlife monitoring – collecting data and carrying out our monitoring programmes on moths, butterflies, shelduck, slow worms, wetland bird survey, daily bird log, gulls (some are dependent on the time of year)
• Practical reserve work and habitat management – coppicing elder, grassland and path management, invasive vegetation management, maintaining fences, gates, benches and other woodwork
• Visitor facing and community work – with volunteer work parties, provide guided tours for visitors, prepping and serving in the pub and shop, welcoming residential visitors incl cleaning and preparing accommodation
• Heritage work – maintaining heritage buildings through general DIY tasks e.g. cleaning, painting, general maintenance tasks
• Operational work – cleaning and maintaining the island operational and accommodation buildings, assisting with health and safety systems checks and procedures, daily duty tasks
• Machinery – maintaining tools and equipment, tractor and trailer driving and basic checks, mower and brush cutter use and basic maintenance, generator checks.

During the visitor season, basic self catering accommodation is provided in a WWII building called ‘Driftwood’ with 5 bedrooms, shared toilet, shower, small kitchen and small dining area. Outside of the visitor season, accommodation is provided in either shared dormitories in the farmhouse with shared toilet/shower/kitchen/dining facilities or in individual basic portocabins with single bed and solar electricity, located in the farmhouse paddock, using shared facilities in the farmhouse. Individuals must be willing to share rooms.

Food is provided to enable trainees to prepare 3 meals a day, travel expense contribution of up to £150 per individual per 6 months to their home location, first aid training and Certified brushcutter/strimmer training as well as on the job training.

To find out more about Flat Holm Island visit www.cardiffharbour.com...