RSPB internships on offer - but apply soon

It wants to find people to be part of its 2017 volunteer internship programme.

The RSPB Volunteer Visitor Experience Internship provides experience in a visitor-related job in conservation whileinspiring people to get closer to nature.

The role, which will enable successful applicants to work for either six months or a year on an RSPB nature reserve, will involve a variety of tasks from welcoming visitors to the nature reserve and engaging them with nature, to promoting and running events and activities. 

The RSPB is also offering volunteer internships for wardens, carrying out the day-to-day practical management of the reserve such as water level, ditch and reedbed management, maintaining fences and boardwalks and surveying and monitoring of birds and other species.

The closing date for applications is noon on Tuesday (17 January) and interviews will be held at the RSPB Old Moor reserve in Manvers from January 30. The internships will start in March.

Interns will be able to choose from a number of nature reserves in Yorkshire and Lancashire to volunteer on – Leighton Moss on the border of Lancashire and Cumbria, Bempton Cliffs on the East Yorkshire coast, Blacktoft Sands on the Humber Estuary, Fairburn Ings in West Yorkshire, and Old Moor in South Yorkshire.

Free accommodation is provided on, or near, each reserve.

More information is available at www.rspb.org.uk/volunteering or email [email protected].

Kirsten Whittaker, RSPB volunteering development officer, said: “This residential volunteer internship scheme will provide training, networking opportunities, on the job mentoring and support, as well as the wonderful experience of living and working on one of our stunning nature reserves with fantastic people.  

“Applicants do not need to be wildlife experts. Having a passion for wildlife, being a good communicator and a people person are far more important.”

Sally Granger, visitor experience officer at RSPB Fairburn Ings, said: “Learning about visitor experience on a nature reserve is as fantastic as it sounds. It involved everything from radio and television interviews, to an afternoon shopping to equip a mud kitchen. 

“As an intern, I loved spending my days finding new ways to excite and inspire members of the public about wildlife, and seeing families return week after week, getting outside and discovering new things. And I’m lucky enough to be able to do it as a full time job now.”