Conservation Volunteer (Winter weedathon volunteer)

Canal & River Trust; Huddersfield; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A waterway conservation organization is seeking volunteers for a canal maintenance project in Huddersfield. Volunteers will engage in activities like environmental enhancements, heritage restoration, and day-to-day maintenance tasks. The role involves working outdoors and requires a willingness to learn new skills and the ability to travel to remote locations. Join a friendly team and contribute to the upkeep of our waterways while enjoying outdoor activities.

Benefits

Spending time outdoors

Learning new skills

Keeping fit

Meeting new and friendly people

Being part of a supportive team

Qualifications

• Must be willing to learn new skills.
• Ability to travel to remote locations is required.

Responsibilities

• Day to day maintenance of the canal.
• Heritage restoration activities.
• Graffiti removal.
• Environmental enhancements like hedgelaying.
• Creating new access points by building or improving steps or ramps.

Skills

Willing to learn new skills

Ability to travel to remote locations

Job description

The winter weedathon is part of our ongoing maintenance of the canal network. Saplings and other vegetation that grows in the wash walls needs to be removed to prevent damage to the masonry.

This role on the Huddersfield narrow canal will involve the use of a pontoon and at times canoes in order to progress along the canal removing the vegetation. All training in the use of the pontoon and canoes will be provided along with the tools that will be used.

This project will run on a Tuesday afternoon from 12:30 till 15:30 throughout the winter (weather dependant)

Why we want you

Our Conservator volunteers help to maintain our network, carrying out important heritage and nature conservation activities as well as everyday tasks to improve the local environment such as painting or litter picking.

Our Conservator Volunteers help to tackle some of our toughest issues on the waterways, ensuring as much of the canal is accessible and well maintained as possible. Each year we face new challenges in managing our increasingly popular space and your support as a Conservator Volunteer will help to achieve our goals in keeping canals alive.

Whilst we have regular teams carrying out important tasks, some run on more of a ‘project’ basis to achieve specific activities (rebuilding a section of stone wall or carrying out some mass planting) meaning that different people can give their time in different ways.

What you will be doing

• Day to day maintenance
• Heritage restoration
• Graffiti Removal
• Environmental enhancements such as hedgelaying
• Creating new access points by building or improved steps or ramps
• When you register as a volunteer, we will ask you about any unspent convictions which you need to declare and risk assess these as needed.

The skills you need

• Willing to learn new skills
• Ability to travel to remote locations

What's in it for you

• Spending time outdoors
• Learning new skills (some with external accreditation).
• Keeping fit
• Meeting new and friendly people
• Being part of a supportive team of colleagues and volunteers
• Seeing improvements to your wellbeing