Calling all 16-19 year old wanabee wildlife wardens. The RSPB South Essex are offering a whole weeks worth of hands on experience alongside our expert ecologists.
From October Monday 24 – Friday 28 we will be giving nine young people a unique experience of managing habitats, scrub clearing, performing surveys and generally getting stuck in helping to protect local wildlife.
Hanna Chisholm, Education Officer says, “Warden Week is a great opportunity for any young person considering a career with wildlife or conservation. Even if you just like the idea of working with your hands, being outside or using practical skills – working as a warden could be for you!“
We're not just about birds, the RSPB is the UK’s largest conservation charity, helping protect lots of different wildlife and life as one of its wardens can be varied and challenging. Working in all weathers, wardens create and maintain habitats for all different kinds of wildlife, as well as leading volunteer groups and
As Steve Roach, South Essex Assistant Warden explains, “The beautiful thing about being a warden is one day your surveying wildlife, the next your building a fence or digging in new habitats or checking water levels – no two days are the same, your learning constantly on the job.“
“You also work alongside volunteers and get to meet lots of different people or sometimes you just find yourself alone in the middle of some beautiful countryside. People have this preconception of wardens as old, bearded blokes with binoculars but that’s just not the case. I loved working outside and being practical and then got into conservation from there. I love every minute of it. “
The warden experience will run each day from 9am – 4pm and all participants will be expected to attend every day. The RSPB will provide tools and transfers but participants will be expected to bring their own lunch and be able to travel to Wat Tyler Country Park in Basildon each day for 9am.
All placEs are now open and will go on a first come first served basis. For more information or to secure your place call 01268 498623 or email hannah.chisholm@rspb.org.uk.