Internship/placement opportunities at the RSPB

RSPB Blean Woods and Seasalter Levels

Practical Conservation Volunteer Internships 2018-19

The reserves

RSPB Blean Woods and Seasalter Levels nature reserves comprise over 750 hectares of SSSI habitat on the outskirts of Canterbury and Whitstable in East Kent.

Blean Woods is a fascinating semi-natural, ancient woodland with areas of high forest, coppice, glades and heathland, linked together by an extensive ride network. The reserve is home to the nationally scarce heath fritillary butterfly as well as rare birds including, nightingale, lesser spotted woodpecker and nightjar.

Seasalter Levels is an extensive wet grassland and represents an exciting new project in its development stage. The reserve hosts breeding birds such as lapwing and redshank, as well as harvest mice and many dragonfly species.

Practical Conservation Volunteer Internships

Why?: This internship is ideal for those looking to start a career in the conservation sector. It’s an excellent way to get practical, hands-on experience in managing land for the benefit of wildlife whilst working for the UK’s largest nature conservation charity.

What do you get?: Working closely with the reserve warden team you will help deliver the winter work programme where you will develop leadership skills by running volunteer work parties. You will receive in-house training, including machinery use, and also participate in ecological survey work. You will have a dedicated mentor who will help develop your skill set and support you in application writing and interview practice.

Commitment: The internship is a flexible programme. As it is a part-time, 3 days a week commitment it enables participants to maintain part-time employment.

Travel expenses: covered within a 25 mile radius of sites.

Dates: mid-August 2018 – 1st March 2019

Come along to our special session with Sam Richardson from the RSPB on Wednesday 14th March at 2pm in DLT2  to find out more about these exciting opportunities!