Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) Field Volunteer
- Are you a nature enthusiast?
- Do you have experience in species identification and wildlife surveys?
- Would you like the opportunity to visit protected sites, contribute to TVERC’s records, and play a role in the success of the Berkshire Local Wildlife Sites Project?
- If so, you may be able to help us with survey work!
Please note: Surveys may not be able to go ahead early this season as originally planned, but please register your interest for future surveys, either later in the season or next year. Surveys will be undertaken in line with the UK government’s and CIEEM’s latest advice on Covid-19.
About the role
TVERC is looking for enthusiastic volunteer naturalists with good identification skills and an ability to work alone in the field to help out with additional species surveys on a range of Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) across the county of Berkshire, between April and July 2020. The LWSs cover a range of habitat types including woodland, wetland, heathland, bog and grassland, and have the potential to support a variety of rare species.
The findings of these surveys will feed into the Berkshire Local Wildlife Sites Project, and inform decisions on how to develop and manage land sustainably and where to direct wildlife conservation work.
The LWS project aims to assess sites against the selection criteria every 10 years. In order to do this, TVERC has the resources to carry out a habitat survey, however, many sites may be eligible to meet the LWS criteria based on their value for rare species and/or important species assemblages. At present, TVERC staff do not have the capacity to conduct the additional surveys required for a comprehensive assessment against all the criteria. Volunteer recorders and recording groups/schemes are vital to helping us collect the additional records required to assess sites.
You will have the opportunity to:
- visit notable sites which may not be accessible to the general public
- gain experience of recording and enhance your field skills
- work alongside enthusiastic and professional ecologists
- contribute to a valuable resource for conservation
Where are the roles based?
Local Wildlife Sites in West Berkshire, Reading, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM), Bracknell Forest and Wokingham (to be discussed)
Key skills
The volunteer will ideally:
- Be experienced in species identification, possibly with expert knowledge in specific taxonomic groups or species
- Have good map reading skills
- Be able to work alone in the field
- Be able to travel independently to remote sites
- Have enthusiasm for wildlife and nature conservation
Please note: you will need to register with TVERC as a volunteer and agree to follow the H&S and lone working guidelines. Travel expenses will be reimbursed (up to £20/day).
About TVERC
Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) collects, analyses and shares geodiversity and biodiversity information in Berkshire and Oxfordshire to help people make sound decisions about how to develop and manage land sustainably and where to direct wildlife conservation work. It has a busy team and welcomes keen volunteers to join them in the office.
TVERC provides information to local authorities, parish councils, local people, conservation bodies, land-owners, agencies, students and commercial organisations such as ecological consultants and utilities companies via data searches, data licensing and data exchanges. About two-thirds of the data held by TVERC is provided by amateurs and volunteers.
It uses its website, newsletters, reports, events and social media to encourage people to learn about wildlife so they can submit records. It also uses these as communication tools in telling partners and potential clients about its data holdings and services.
Visit the TVERC website for more information about its services and what it does.
Register interest
Please contact Caitlin Coombs, TVERC Biodiversity Officer, to discuss which sites you may be interested in and make further arrangements – caitlin.coombs@oxfordshire.gov.uk