Avon Wildlife Trust Biodiversity Team

A volunteer is needed to work 3 days per week on the Avonmouth Water Vole Project. The placement is weekdays only and could start immediately. A commitment of three-four months minimum is required.

Work is primarily office-based in Bristol but there will also be the need to help coordinate and carry out a large-scale water vole survey, plus the opportunity to assist with other Biodiversity Team projects. Main tasks include liaising with Local Authorities, large business, other environmental organisations and the public; written tasks, database handling and possibly presentations; as well as helping to plan and coordinate a water vole survey, including other field surveyors as necessary.

Water voles are Britain's fastest declining mammal and it is thought populations have reduced by 90% since 1990. Avonmouth is an alluvial floodplain adjacent to the Severn Estuary comprising residential and industrial areas. It is interlaced by a network rhines which are home to a regionally important population of water voles. The initiative aims to engage businesses, landowners, site managers and the local community to put in place a conservation strategy so as to help ensure the long-term survival of the population alongside development.

The project is a partnership between Avon Wildlife Trust, Wessex Water, Bristol Zoo Gardens and the Environment Agency with delivery by the Trust.

Knowledge:

• Appropriate  degree qualification or equivalent, in a biological or environmental discipline
• A full driving licence
• Some knowledge of water voles, ideally with previous survey experience
• Competent with MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• MS Publisher and GIS/MapInfo skills are desirable but not essential
• An awareness of Biodiversity Action Plans

Skills:

• Excellent written and spoken communication skills
• A confident telephone manner
• Focussed and able to work independently using own initiative and judgement
• Must pay attention to detail
• Must have confidence to liaise with business, environmental organisations, the public and possibly give presentations

Personal attributes:

• An enthusiasm for conservation
• A liking for working outdoors, the role will include several days of surveying
• Tact, diplomacy and a sense of humour

Please email an up-to-date CV and covering letter to the Freshwater Projects Officer: lydiarobbins@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk    

Planning and Policy Assistant

MAIN PURPOSES OF WORK: To facilitate the delivery of the planning and policy work programme of the Trust, including responding to major planning applications and planning policy documents. Good communication with partners, community groups and other bodies is essential. Applicants must be computer literate, willing to learn and show initiative and must be able to commit for 1-2 days per week for a year.

Assisting with

• Responding to major planning applications and policy documents

• Monitoring local, regional and national planning and related policies

• Liasing with local authority ecologists, Natural England and other bodies on particular issues

• Co-ordinating work internally in response to local strategic policy development

• Active campaign work as necessary

EXPERIENCE in the following areas is desirable:

• Report writing

• Liasing with other bodies

KNOWLEDGE in the following areas is desirable:

• An interest in the framework for wildlife conservation in the UK and the planning system

• An interest in planning and related policy

• Appropriate degree qualification, or equivalent, in an environmental or planning discipline

SKILLS in the following areas are desirable:

• Good written and spoken communication skills

• Ability to work with a wide range of people

• Computer literate

• Ability to motivate others and negotiate positive outcomes

• Ability to work to tight timescales and meet deadlines

• Ability to work independently using own initiative and judgement, as well as in close co-operation with others

• Hold a full, clean driving license

PERSONAL QUALITIES in the following areas are desirable:

• Self-discipline

• Creativity

• Enthusiasm and self motivation

• Sense of humour

• Tact, diplomacy and integrity

Please e-mail the Planning and Policy Officer an up to date CV: sianparry@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk, or phone on 0117 9177270.

Avon Wildlife Trust Charity Number: 280422

Nature reserves

Wildlife Action Groups (WAG)
Join in when you can on any Wednesday or Sunday and be part of the volunteer teams that do practical conservation work on our nature reserves. Transport, tools, training and tea are all provided. Click here for this quarter's WAG Programme.

Part-time Placements
Working closely with Avon Wildlife Trust staff voluntary placements are for people who wish to get involved for 2 or more days a week. Taking a part time placement is also the best way to gain training and experience in conservation. See below for current placement opportunities:

Volunteer Conservation Officer

Do you enjoy being outdoors? Do you have a passion for conservation? Are you responsible, reliable and enthusiastic? Are you looking for practical conservation experience?

We have two voluntary Conservation Officers vacancies. The posts involves:

• Leading the volunteer conservation group

• Being compliant with Health & Safety legislation

• Gaining natural history identification skills and heritage skills

• Assisting with reserve management projects

• Assisting with surveys and monitoring projects across the Trusts nature reserves

The position is suitable for people who want to gain practical conservation and wildlife surveying experience or people wishing to change their career direction. Candidates should be able to commit two days per week plus one in four Sundays for a year or more. You must have a full clean driver’s licence that you have held for a minimum of two years. For an informal chat please contact Sarah van der Meer (Volunteering Officer) on 0117 9177277 or send your CV and contact details to sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk or Avon Wildlife Trust, 32 Jacobs Wells Road, Bristol, BS8 1DR.

Estates Team Volunteers - 2 posts available now
Volunteers are needed on any weekdays to be part of our Estates Team. Previous experience is not required although the work is of a physical nature. The team is an integral part of The Avon Wildlife Trusts nature reserves section. They work throughout the former county of Avon, undertaking essential management work for nature conservation on all 38 of our nature reserves. The team is site based although transport is provided from our main office on Jacob’s Wells Road. Activities include:

• Woodland management. E.g. coppicing, tree felling & deer fencing.
  

• Grassland management and restoration. E.g. hay making, scrub control, fencing to enable grazing.
  

• Access improvements. E.g. step construction, erecting gates and kissing gates, building boardwalks and bridges.
  

• Developing wildlife areas in school grounds. E.g. pond creation, constructing dipping platforms, path creation.

All equipment and necessary training is provided. Travel and lunch expenses are available. For more information please contact Sarah Van der Meer on 0117 9177277 or e-mail: sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Wildlife Survey
If you have existing skills as a naturalist we need help to monitor species and habitats on our nature reserves. The information gathered helps to advise future management decisions and assess the benefit of completed conservation work. For more information please contact Sarah Van der Meer on 0117 9177277 or e-mail: sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Voluntary Reserve Wardens
Are you interested in your local environment? Would you like to help wildlife flourish in your local area? Volunteer Wardens have a unique role within the Trust, helping to manage AWT nature reserves. Ideally we are looking for people who can give a long-term commitment to their local reserve. The exact nature of wardening is flexible depending on the interests and the amount of free time an individual warden has. Activities may include one, some or all of the following. Survey and monitoring of important species, communicating any issues that arise to nature reserves staff, meeting volunteer work parties, taking part in some practical management tasks and/or maintenance of facilities, liasing with individuals or groups associated with the reserve. We offer a range of free training in wildlife identification and practical skills. Please contact Sarah Van der Meer on 0117 917 7277 or e-mail: sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk if you would like to discuss the opportunities for wardening in your local area.

Folly Farm Volunteers
Volunteers needed to help with the management of the nature reserve and the renovation and maintenance of its associated buildings. This is a group of retired / semi-retired volunteers that visit the reserve every Thursday. Folly Farm is near Chew Valley Lake. For further information please contact Sarah Van der Meer on 0117 917 7277 or e-mail: sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Education

Part-time Placements:
Working closely with Avon Wildlife Trust staff, voluntary placements are for people who wish to get involved for 2 or more days a week. Taking a part time placement is also the best way to gain training and experience in environmental education. Current posts include:

School Grounds Project Assistants - available now.
These posts involve working mainly with schools and also with other communities and organisations in supporting them to develop their grounds for wildlife and encouraging them to use their grounds and other green spaces in exciting and creative ways. Placements will gain experience in planning practical projects (for example, creating and managing wildlife habitats such as ponds, hedges, butterfly gardens and willow structures) and leading practical projects working with children and other members of the school community. Placements also help with planning and assisting environmental activity days for children in school grounds and on nature reserves and in the planning and leading of Environmental Arts projects on nature reserves which link nature reserves with the community.

Willsbridge Mill Education Assistants - available now.
These posts involve working with visiting schools to Willsbridge Mill nature reserve and education centre. Placements will help to prepare equipment, resources and make new props. They will be trained to lead school groups through their planned programme of activities and encouraged to take an active role in the running of the centre. There will also be opportunities to help with outdoor conservation tasks around the nature reserve, give support in the office and to help in running a monthly Watch club for Junior members. Placements will also be able to help in special events and holiday activities - from planning and publicity, to running children's activity sessions.

Placements are for 2-3 days a week and ideally you should be able to commit for a minimum of four months. For further information please contact Sarah Van der Meer on 0117 917 7270 or e-mail: sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Willsbridge Mill Warden
Opportunity to gain a wide range of skills at Willsbridge Mill, our main visitor and education centre based just outside Bristol. This will involve a specific project to manage and develop our practical conservation team based at the reserve. Opportunities to gain valuable experience in assisting with schools and events. Interest in wildlife and experience in working with children preferable but not essential. Contact Sarah Van der Meer on 0117 917 7277 or e-mail: sarahvandermeer@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

Watch Leaders
We are looking for volunteers to lead our Brandon Hill and Yeo Valley Watch clubs for younger members. Contact John Nickerson on 0117 917 7270.

Willsbridge Mill - volunteers needed
There are lots of volunteer opportunities on offer at Willsbridge Mill. We need more volunteers to carry out all kinds of activities - from helping with school visits to serving teas in the cafe. Whether you have a particular skill or interest you would like to develop, or are just looking for something interesting to do, we'd love to hear from you. Contact Ruth Worsley on 0117 932 6885.

Events

Volunteer Speakers
If you have an interest in wildlife, are confident about making presentations and like meeting new people, you could join our team of speakers who travel to a variety of groups, including special interest groups, clubs and community associations. For further information please ring Judy Copeland on Wednesday at the Trust Office on 0117 917 7270.