Residential on Reserve - Loch Lomond
RSPB
Description
RSPB Scotland Loch Lomond is a flagship site for nature conservation and visitor experience in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The reserve covers a range of habitats including grassland, woodland, and fen and supports a vast range of species such as osprey, beaver, redstart, and small pearl-bordered fritillary.
During your placement you will be an integral part of the reserve team. No two days are the same. There are many aspects to the role, from helping with habitat management actions, maintaining reserve infrastructure, to supporting our visitor team in delivering our ever-expanding visitor offer.
This is a full-time residential volunteering position; however, it can be a four day a week position if the candidate requires a part time job alongside the volunteering placement. Accommodation is provided for you on site at RSPB Loch Lomond.
When:
January 2026 to July 2026 (specific dates flexible). Commitment: 6 months
What you will be doing
- Practical conservation/management tasks. E.g., invasive species removal, vegetation management to benefit target species
- Undertaking wildlife monitoring and surveying. E.g., moth trapping, herbivore impact assessments, goose surveys
- Reserve checks and general reserve infrastructure maintenance. E.g., livestock checks, path maintenance, fence repairs
- Visitor operations. E.g., welcoming visitors at the visitor hub and directing them to points of interest, helping at public events, lending a hand with guided walks
Requirements
- 18+
- An interest in wildlife conservation and ecology
- Enthusiasm to learn a wide range of skills related to managing a nature reserve
- Able to walk long distances over rough terrain and carry out strenuous manual tasks
- Comfortable working outside in all weather conditions
- Ability to work alone and as part of a team
- Willingness to work a flexible rota, which will include evenings and weekends
- Ability and desire to live in shared accommodation
There is no closing date for this advert as we will be interviewing suitable applicants as they come in. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we receive sufficient applications for the role. Successful candidates will be invited to an interview via Microsoft Teams.
The RSPB is the UK charity working to secure a healthy environment for birds and wildlife, helping to create a better world for all of us. We belong to BirdLife International, the global partnership of bird conservation organisations. Your time and skills could make a real difference to the work of the RSPB, and it would be great if you could join us.
About RSPB
The RSPB is a charity for the conservation of birds and nature. We bring people together who love birds and other wildlife, and who want to take action to restore the health and diversity of the natural world. We carry out conservation on a large scale, protect and restore habitats, and save species from extinction. We’re living in a nature and climate emergency, and we won’t stop whilst the threats persist.
We believe our work makes a real difference to the world we live in. It takes a great team to
save nature and we need a wide range of skills to make it happen.
As an RSPB employee, you will be helping to save nature every time you come to work. There’s never been a more important time to protect our wildlife and wild places, so we want to make sure you feel rewarded for everything you help us to achieve.
The RSPB is a charity for the conservation of birds and nature. We bring people together who love birds and other wildlife, and who want to take action to restore the health and diversity of the natural world. We carry out conservation on a large scale, protect and restore habitats, and save species from extinction. We’re living in a nature and climate emergency, and we won’t stop whilst the threats persist. We believe our work makes a real difference to the world we live in. It takes a great team to save nature and we need a wide range of skills to make it happen. As an RSPB employee, you will be helping to save nature every time you come to work. There’s never been a more important time to protect our wildlife and wild places, so we want to make sure you feel rewarded for everything you help us to achieve.
more