Residential Volunteer - Saving Morvern’s Rainforest

Placements available February and March 2026

Saving Morvern’s Rainforest:

The Morvern peninsula in the West Highlands contains some of Scotland's finest remaining rainforest, and there is immense potential to restore and expand this habitat for the benefit of people and wildlife. Through the RSPB-led Saving Morvern's Rainforest project, we hope to support landowners, land managers and the local community to realise their vision of a thriving, healthy rainforest.

Why We Want You:

Invasive Rhododendron ponticum is one of the biggest threats to Scotland’s rainforests. If left unmanaged, it can dominate the woodland, suppressing tree regeneration and shading out important rainforest plants.

You’ll be helping our Rainforest Restoration Team to remove invasive rhododendron from the Isle of Carna, off the coast of Morvern. It’s a great opportunity to learn practical habitat management skills in a stunning location.

What’s In It For You:

The Isle of Carna is a haven of tranquillity and wildlife. The small, 600-acre uninhabited island, offers a rich tapestry of habitats and landscapes for you to explore. Otters, white-tailed eagles and seals can be spotted daily from the island!

This is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a meaningful impact on the conservation of Scotland’s rainforest. You’ll have the chance to learn from our Rainforest Restoration Team, gaining hands-on experience in practical conservation techniques, surveys and immersing yourself in their local expertise.

Requirements:

Accommodation is provided in a 4 bedroom farmhouse. There is no mobile data at the farmhouse and Wifi is only available in the staff cottage, a short 200m walk from the farmhouse.

Carna is a remote uninhabited island, and whilst you may have the opportunity to explore the surrounding area off-island on your weekend days off, you will be living and working with other residential volunteers during the week. It’s essential that you are a team player and enjoy living communally with others.

There are no paths on the island so walking to work sites will be across uneven and sometimes steep terrain. Some of the work sites on the North-west part of the island are far away from the accommodation and will be accessed by boat. The work itself is physically demanding, for which you will need to have a good level of fitness and be able to follow safe working practices.

This opportunity is ideally suited for people who enjoy being outdoors and are willing to be outside in all weather conditions – rain and cold! If you don’t have appropriate clothing, i.e. waterproofs, these can be provided upon request.

Minimum age 18.

Important Information about the placement:

Volunteer placements are for a minimum of 2 weeks, and ideally we’d prefer volunteers to stay for between 4 - 8 weeks. Placements are available in February and March 2026 only.

Volunteers will be expected to do rhododendron clearing work Monday – Thursday with Friday – Sunday as free time.

Boat access on and off the island will be available on Thursdays and Mondays from Laga Bay.

There is no charge to take part in the scheme.

It is your responsibility to cover the cost of your transport to and from Laga Bay, where we will get the boat over to the island, and to provide and cover the cost of your food during your stay. It is likely that volunteers will do a communal weekly food shop.

The RSPB will provide accommodation and bed linen, together with basic services, free of charge for the period you are volunteering.

This opportunity is delivered in partnership with Carna Conservation Initiative, as we work together to enhance the rainforests of Carna.