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RSPB Dorset
Induction Book
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What do our volunteers think? I volunteer because I believe in making the environment a better place through conservation work.
I believe Arne to be one of the most beautiful places in the world and want others to love it as much as I do.
I have been a member for 40 years and at last have time to give. I believe the organisation is extremely important for the protection of wildlife.
Very friendly staff and other volunteers, and lots of lovely visitors.
I always enjoy my experience of helping at Radipole Lake because the setting is beautiful and the staff are so friendly and welcoming and knowledgeable.
Wonderful people, wonderful place.
Cover photo: Dartford warbler by Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)
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Welcome to the team! You are now an RSPB Dorset volunteer You are joining a team of over 200 volunteers in the county who together give over 12,000 hours of their time annually. Our volunteers work in all areas and at all levels of the organisation, giving their time, experience, skills and talents to help save nature. We have produced this booklet for you to ensure you have all the information you need to make sure volunteering is fun, rewarding and enjoyable. This will tell you what the RSPB does, what’s special about our work in Dorset and where you fit into the organisation. You will also have an induction with your line manager where you will find out what you’ll be doing, where you’ll be working and who you’ll be working with. We are committed to helping you excel at what you do for the RSPB, so you can be the best you can be and help the RSPB succeed at saving nature. I would encourage you to develop your skills, try new things and get as much as possible from your time with us, whether that’s two weeks or twenty years. Please keep in touch and let us know what we’re doing well and how we could improve. We love to hear from you and how you’re getting on. I hope you have a fantastic experience. Thank you for volunteering and welcome to the Dorset team.
Dante Munns Dorset and Wiltshire Area Manager E: Dante.Munns@rspb.org.uk T: 01929 555982
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About the RSPB - the largest wildlife charity in Europe We have over a million members and together we help to give nature a home. Although we're the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, we help lots of other wildlife too — making ideal habitats for birds also benefits other creatures. Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)
What's in our heart? We love nature — we're passionate about wildlife and wild places. We believe the environment should be at the top of the agenda whether the subject is building houses, fishing our seas, transporting goods or educating our children. We never give up, we get things done; making changes for the better, for wildlife and for people. Where do we work? We work across the UK, saving species from extinction, protecting special places for wildlife, and motivating people to add their voice to ours. What do we do? We save birds and other wildlife - preventing them from becoming extinct. We talk about this in terms of "giving nature a home" - it's a strong, memorable metaphor for conservation. It also encompasses everything we want our members and supporters to do. So whether we're transforming thousands of hectares of reserves, working with farmers and landowners, or showing a supporter how to install a bee box, it all adds up to the same thing: giving nature a home, so that birds and other wildlife can thrive. We save the environment - we can't stop climate change on our own, but we can do everything within our power to lessen its effects and to help wildlife adapt. Our conservation work helps, and we're also campaigning to influence policies on energy, agriculture, transport, planning, fisheries, climate and water use, which all affect the environment. We connect people with nature - we believe that bringing people closer to nature enriches their lives. We create opportunities for people to experience wildlife at first hand. This is especially important with children getting children excited about the natural world is one of our top priorities. Our ability to help wildlife depends upon the understanding of people like you, your mum, your best mate... Everyone!
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How the RSPB began The RSPB was formed in 1889 to counter the barbarous trade in plumes for women's hats - a fashion responsible for the death of many thousands of egrets, birds of paradise and other species whose feathers had become fashionable in the late Victorian era. In its earliest days, the society consisted entirely of women who were moved by the plight of young birds left to starve in the nest after their parents had been shot. The rules of the society were simple:  
that members shall discourage the wanton destruction of birds, and interest themselves generally in their protection. that lady-members shall refrain from wearing the feathers of any bird not killed for purposes of food, the ostrich only excepted.
A number of influential figures lent their support to the cause, which gained widespread publicity and popularity, leading to a rapid growth in the society's membership and a widening of its aims. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Historical photos: RSPB (rspb-images.com)
Some other milestones: 1904 Membership subscription set at five shillings. 1930 Cheyne Court, Romney Marsh purchased - our first nature reserve. 1965 Young Ornithologists' Club (YOC) launched (pictured above - right). Arne was purchased. 1976 Radipole was taken on by the RSPB. 1989 RSPB celebrates its centenary and membership reaches 500,000. 1993 RSPB becomes a Partner of BirdLife International. 1997 RSPB reaches 1 million members in early September. 2001 Big Garden Birdwatch became the biggest bird survey ever.
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The Dorset Team Volunteering Team What do they do? Support staff in Dorset to recruit and manage volunteers. Where will you find them? Claire is based at the Wareham Office and Gilly and Juliet work in the South West Regional Office in Exeter.
Gilly Robinson South West Volunteering Development Officer
Juliet Simms South West Volunteering Development Officer
Claire Young Community Volunteering Officer
Estates Team What do they do? The estates team look after our beautiful reserves and carry out practical conservation work and ecological surveys. Where will you find them? Across all the Dorset reserves.
Mark Singleton Reserves Operations Manager
Stewart Milburn Estates Team Leader
Andy Jones Reserves Assistant
Toby Branston Reserves Ecological Manager
Ecological Services (ES) Team What do they do? They operate like contractors, doing surveys and practical work for landowners across Dorset. Where will you find them? All over Dorset and sometimes further afield!
Wes Parnell ES Business Manager
Alistair Smith ES Team Supervisor
Chris Dieck Ecology Supervisor
Gary Clarke Grazing Manager
Contact details for all Dorset staff can be found in the back of this booklet.
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Visitor Experience Team What do they do? They welcome visitors to the reserves, talk to them about the work of the RSPB and recruit new members. Where will you find them? Across Dorset
Luke Phillips Information Officer - Arne
Danny Bartlett Senior Visitor Centre Assistant - Weymouth
George Hinton Information Assistant - Arne
Lindsey Death Visitor Experience Officer - Weymouth
Joe Stockwell Information Assistant - Arne
Rob Farrington Visitor Experience Manager
Off-site Recruitment Team What do they do? They attend events across Dorset, talking to people about the work of the RSPB and recruiting members. Where will you find them? All over Dorset.
Lynne Burningham Membership Development Officer
Sarah-Jane Buckle People Engagement Officer
Admin Team
Tony Sheridan Membership Development Officer
Projects Team
Conservation Team
Jenny Goy Administrator for the Dorset Team
Sarah Webb Projects Manager
Renny Henderson Dorset Conservation Officer
Emma Stephens Arne Administrator
Tom Clarke Project Development Officer for Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch
Helen Booker Senior Conservation Officer - Chesil Beach Little Tern Recovery Project.
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Weymouth Wetlands The RSPB has been managing land and looking after nature in Weymouth since the 1970s. Situated right in the middle of town, Lodmoor and Radipole are a haven for otters, kingfishers, water voles, bitterns and thousands of other species. The Wild Weymouth Discovery Centre is the gateway to these reserves. Situated at the entrance to Radipole in the Swannery car park, it is the perfect place to relax with a cream tea, watch herons hunting and ducks dabbling meters away from the window. There are also live cameras and a pond dipping platform where visitors can explore what’s living beneath the water. To find out more, visit rspb.org.uk/weymouthwetlands Urban Oasis The incredible wildlife and peaceful green space at the heart of Weymouth wouldn’t be there without support from RSPB members. Money raised from memberships is used to manage the habitat for its wild residents, but one member in particular was also fundamental to our acquisition of the site. In the 1970s Radipole and Lodmoor were up for grabs and under threat of development. A local member who loved the sites wrote a letter to the RSPB urging someone to visit the area and see the wildlife for themselves. Needless to say, the RSPB never looked back and we still manage both sites for wildlife today. The local member still visits every week. David Wootton (rspb-images.com)
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Bearded beauties Bearded tits are very shy birds and only live in reed beds. We carefully manage the reed beds at Radipole and Lodmoor by cutting different parts at different times and controlling water levels to make sure the conditions are perfect for them. They are particularly vulnerable to severe winters Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) and their population has declined in recent years, so it’s really important that we look after them. There’s a healthy population in Weymouth and the best time to see them is on still, sunny days. Listen for their pinging call in amongst the reeds! Marsh harriers return After an absence of almost 50 years due to DDT pesticide use and habitat loss, marsh harriers returned to breed in Dorset in 2009, right in the middle of Radipole. They nest down in the reeds, but you can get excellent views as they are out hunting for ducks and waders. If you’re lucky, you might even see a spectacular aerial food pass between the male and female - a marsh harrier bonding ritual. Morgan Vaughan
Tern-riffic! Lodmoor has one of the largest common tern colonies in the South West. Nicknamed “seaswallows” for their long tails, they can be seen plunging for fish in Weymouth Bay. Over at Chesil Beach, little terns are also thriving thanks to protection from our dedicated volunteers. Between 2009, when the RSPB got involved in the project, and 2014, the number or pairs increased from zero to over thirty!
Beautiful liar Volunteers monitor a wide range of species on the reserves, including the plants. In Spring, flowers such as the bee orchid start to bloom on the reserve. In Britain the bee orchid is selfpollinating but in some places it’s pollinated by bumblebees. Its enchanting flower fools the bees into trying to mate with it. Bee orchids like a bit of disturbance, so the paths are the best place to see them.
Naomi Bailey
Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
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Arne Arne is an amazing and diverse reserve situated at the base of the Purbeck hills on the edge of Poole Harbour. It was taken on by the RSPB in 1965 to save the Dartford warblers, which have increased from 8 to over 3000 pairs across the UK since then! The Arne population is going strong thanks to our management, support from members and the hard work of staff and volunteers.
Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)
With over 100,000 visitors a year, Arne is one of the most popular RSPB reserves and visitors come from far and wide to see the spectacular wildlife that lives here. We have a packed schedule of events including weekly walks, sleep outs, bug hunts and reptile show-and-tells. More information about Arne can be found on the website rspb.org.uk/arne. Heathland - rarer than rainforest Two hundred years ago, heathland would have spread across much of Dorset. Since then, over 80% of it has been dug up for mineral extraction, built over, ploughed up or planted with conifers. If you look over to Poole from Arne you will see that only small, isolated pockets remain. Money raised from memberships means that the RSPB can help to protect these remaining heaths and the wildlife that depends on them.
David Wootton (rspb-images.com)
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Reptile refuge Arne is one of the few places in the UK where you can find all six species of British reptile: adder, sand lizard, slowworm, grass snake, common lizard and smooth snake (right). We remove pines from the heath, create basking areas and keep the heather healthy to provide the perfect environment for them to thrive.
Photo by Nick Martin
Oh deer... The reserve is also home to around a two hundred charismatic Sika deer. Sika originate from Japan and were introduced to Brownsea Island in 1896 where they swiftly escaped, swimming across the harbour and colonising Purbeck. They love to eat heather and can damage the heathland, so we have to control their numbers to protect other native wildlife. Sika means deer in Japanese, so they are actually called deer deer! Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
Wader’s paradise Poole Harbour is an nationally important site for wintering waders and wildfowl. The mudflats and marshes around Arne host thousands of ducks, geese and waders, including avocet, the bird of the RSPB logo and an increasing number of spoonbill, which can now be seen all year round.
All creatures great and small You may think that birds run the show at Arne, but the heaths are also home to 240 species of spider. This includes the striking wasp spiders, huge raft spiders that can walk on water and tiny ladybird spiders, the rarest of them all. Ladybird spiders were thought to be extinct in the UK until a small population was rediscovered in Dorset in 1980. In 2011, we reintroduced 30 individuals to Arne, transporting them in plastic water bottles filled with moss! It is hoped that this small group will expand and ladybird spiders will be protected for future generations.
Raft spider: Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com), Ladybird Spider: Toby Branston, Wasp spider: C Emblem
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Garston Wood Garston is a hidden gem in a quiet corner of North Dorset near Sixpenny Handley. This small, semi-ancient woodland is home to dormice, badgers and birds such as nuthatches and marsh tits, as well as many flowers and invertebrates. Toby Branston
A window into the past Garston is a throwback to a bygone, more peaceful time. Traditional hazel coppicing for building material and charcoal-making is done here, which is great for wildflowers and butterflies. Sixty years ago half of England’s woodlands were coppiced by hand, but this type of management is now disappearing and this is bad news for wildlife. Our amazing volunteers carry out this management for us, which would be almost impossible without them! Dormouse monitoring Dormice are declining because of habitat loss and lack of suitable nest sites. They spend up to three quarters of their life asleep, so need somewhere safe to rest! A team of volunteers monitor the dormice at Garston, checking their nest boxes and weighing them to make sure they’re healthy.
Stoborough Heath Stoborough Heath is a National Nature Reserve adjacent to Hartland Moor to the west of Wareham and is an important site for some rare species, including Southern damselfly, sand lizard and woodlark. It also has rich historical value, with many Bronze Age barrows and other structures. It has one of the highest densities of scheduled ancient monuments of any RSPB reserve. Many of these were found by local archaeologists looking on Google Earth!
Jackie Cooper (rspb-images.com)
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Grange Heath Grange Heath is a reserve towards Creech, which is undergoing restoration to return it to healthy lowland heathland, helped along by our famous pigs. The pigs clear scrub, making way for the creation of a mosaic of habitats and plants which will provide an opportunity for heathland dependent species, such as the Purbeck mason wasp and Dartford warbler. The site also hosts a pair of breeding hobbies.
Arne Moors This is a large area of wet meadows south of the River Frome between Ridge and Arne. It is our second largest reserve in Dorset but is currently closed to the public due to frequent flooding and to protect the sensitive wildlife that lives there. It has sphagnum moss beds filled with rare large marsh grasshoppers and the largest colony of (very rare) viper’s grass in England. In the winter, this site hosts thousands of waders and acts as a roost for up to twelve marsh harriers and even a few short-eared owls.
Lytchett Fields This is a reserve that we manage on the edge of Lytchett Bay in Upton. The bay boasts an impressive 220 bird species and the flooded fields are a haven for breeding waders such as redshank. The site is currently undergoing a massive change as a large proportion of it is transitioning from freshwater to saline, resulting in large numbers of wetland birds using the site. We are trialling some public access on the reserve with local support.
Tormod Amundsen - Biotope
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Out and about - spreading the word!
One of our objectives is to Grow Support for Nature and to do that we have to take our message on the road to people all over Dorset. We attend fairs, festivals, talks, activity days and shows so that we can tell as many people as possible that nature is in trouble and it needs their help. Our volunteers work hard alongside staff to inspire, amaze and inform people about the wildlife on their doorstep by leading guided walks, giving demonstrations, organising arts and crafts and recruiting members. The RSPB has over 1.1 million members and we couldn’t save nature without them. Good to know
We don’t just look after birds! There are 13,400 species on RSPB reserves and half of these are insects.
90% of all profit raised goes to directly to conservation.
We’re not rich! We only have 9 weeks of funding in reserve.
Money from memberships in the South West goes to protect SW reserves.
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Local Groups RSPB local groups are a great way to meet friendly, like-minded people in your area, while learning more about birds and wildlife. They are run by volunteers with the aim of actively supporting the work of the RSPB in the local community and involving RSPB members and the wider public in the Society's activities. Members of local groups can be as involved as they like. Some just take part in the extensive events program, and others get more involved with the everyday running of the group. We have several local groups in this area. If you would like to get involved, please contact the group leader via the websites listed below.
Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
Poole Local Group The Poole group meets monthly at Upton Community Centre and runs monthly field trips to wildlife hotspots around the county. They also run bird boat trips around Poole Harbour for the local schools and are always looking for willing volunteers to help out! Website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/poole South Dorset Local Group The South Dorset group is led jointly by a committee and meet monthly between September and April at St. Georges Church Hall in Fordington, Dorchester. They run some exciting field trips across Dorset and beyond and host fascinating talks by local wildlife experts and nature enthusiasts. Website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southdorset South Wiltshire Local Group The South Wiltshire group are a very active group and meet regularly for meetings, talks, field trips, events and volunteering days. They meet at the Salisbury Arts Centre from September to April, but often run trips to Dorset. This group also lead “Discover Garston� days and support work parties at Garston Wood throughout the winter, where they manage the habitat for butterflies and dormice. Website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southwiltshire
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Our vision: a world richer in nature Imagine this. Wild birds and other wildlife are no longer declining. Nature is being restored and is enriching people's lives. We have a world that guarantees future generations clean air and water, a stable climate, rich and varied wildlife and a robust and sustainable economy. Together we can save nature. Our mission: by 2020 the RSPB will inspire a world richer in nature. Our objectives: A world richer in nature - we are clear that species and habitats are our primary focus. This is why we will support global ambitions for nature and will set our own ambitious goals.
Growing support for nature - we need to increase the pace; to work with others and become a more powerful force for change. In short, to step up for nature.
Excel at nature conservation - we want to be renowned for the excellence of our science, practical conservation work and advocacy.
Be one team for nature - Saving Nature is complex, long-term and challenging. We need all the skills of all our people and work together with a shared sense of purpose and commitment.
Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)
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How we measure our success
This is the Saving Nature Scorecard and it shows how all the hard work of our volunteers, from helping in the visitor centres, to monitoring birds and from inputting data to counting change, all contributes to the overall purpose of Saving Nature.
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Your role within the RSPB You are now one of over 17,000 RSPB volunteers and part of our ‘One Team for Nature’. Volunteers work in all areas and at all levels of the Society, including Council which is made up entirely of volunteers.
Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
For the RSPB, volunteering is not just a means of getting things done. We feel as a volunteer with us you learn about conservation and the natural world from firsthand experience. Through this, you are likely to become champions of the natural world, adopt personal lifestyle choices that benefit the environment, help address climate change and as a result are better able to take part in informed debate and discussion about conservation issues.
We recognise that volunteering must benefit you as well as the charity and aim to provide an environment that is inclusive, stimulating, friendly and supportive. The RSPB is task-led in its work with volunteers — this means we only recruit volunteers when we have tasks for them to do and we aim to create clearly defined and meaningful roles for volunteers to take on. With some roles, it’s clear how the work contributes to helping wildlife, but with others, it might not be so obvious. Answer the questions below with your line manager to see how your role fits into our work... How does your role help to Save Nature?
Which Saving Nature outcomes does your role contribute to? (Use the scorecard on page 17 and write the letters below)
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Affix role description here
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Training and Development Whilst volunteering with us, you may wish to develop your skills and improve your knowledge on a range of subjects. All volunteers should have an induction with their line manager and do a certain amount of learning on the go, but formal training courses will also be available to you. These will be advertised by email and through your line manager. We also want to give you the opportunity to grow in your role, and where appropriate we will encourage you to take on new roles and/or become further involved.
Eleanor Bentall (rspb-images.com)
Take some time to plan your development with your line manager using the table on the opposite page.
eLearning The RSPB eLearning system is an online training resource. It is a way for you to learn what you need, when you need it, at your pace, where you want, via a computer, laptop, smart phone, etc. We have made our suite of online training material available to all of our volunteers and have courses in the areas of... Communications Customer service Finance and budgeting Personal development Health and safety Management Data protection You will need an RSPB username & password to access the eLearning resources. It can be accessed via the intranet home page or directly using this link: https://rspb.clcmoodle.org. For help to get started, please ask your line manager.
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Your RSPB journey Use this space to plan your development with your line manager. Training
Objectives
1:1 induction
RSPB Dorset Experience
Understand your role Meet your team Get the essential information you need to get started Learn about the RSPB and our work locally
By... (date)
Review Date
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Health and Safety The RSPB is committed to making nature reserves and offices safe for staff, volunteers and visitors. However, because of the nature of our work and the environment we work in, we are sometimes involved in potentially hazardous activities. Consequently, it is important to spend some time considering the health and safety precautions within your role... Emergency Procedures Please discuss the questions below with your line manager and write the answers in the space provided. What is the procedure if there is a fire?
What should I do if I discover a fire?
Where would I get a first aid kit?
Who is a first aider?
Where is the incident book located and what should I report in it?
What is the lost child procedure?
Lone working At some point during your role you may be working alone in the field or even in the office. This can be risky as there is the potential for any accident to have more serious consequences due to the increased difficulty in ensuring rapid emergency help. If you are likely to be working alone at any time, your line manager should give you a copy of the lone working policy and explain the processes to you.
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Manual handling Incorrect manual handling is the cause of more than a third of all accidents reported to the Health and Safety executive each year, and are very common within the RSPB. To minimise your risk, you should... 1. Avoid the need for hazardous manual handling 2. Assess the risk of injury from any hazardous manual handling that can’t be avoided 3. Reduce the risk as far as is reasonably practicable 4. Implement the control measures decided on If you are likely to be doing manual handling in your role, you should attend training or complete the online e-learning module. Ticks and Lyme disease Ticks are tiny blood-sucking mites that are found on vegetation, especially in areas like woodland and heath where deer are living. Some ticks carry infections that can be passed onto humans, the most serious of which is Lyme disease, which can cause serious health problems. Although the risk is extremely low, you should take precautions to avoid tick bites, including wearing tight weave clothing, tucking trousers into socks, covering bare skin with insect repellent and wearing boots instead of open sandals. If your role involves working outside in the field, your line manager should give you a copy of the Lyme disease code of practice, which explains how to avoid tick bites and what to do if you get one. Rats and Leptospirosis Leptospirosis is a flu-like illness caused by bacteria from infected rat urine. It can get into your body through cuts and scratches and through the lining of the mouth, throat and eyes after contact with infected urine or contaminated water, such as in sewers, ditches, ponds and slow-flowing rivers. You can prevent infection by... Covering all cuts and broken skin with waterproof plasters Wearing protective clothing Washing your hands after working If you are likely to be a risk in your role, your line manager should give you a copy of the Leptospirosis fact sheet. You can also visit www.hse.gov.uk and type indg84 into the search field for more information. Keeping Children Safe The RSPB is committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of children. More information can be found about this in your “A little time goes a long way” booklet on pages 20-21.
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Love volunteering? Want to do more? After a while, you might decide that you’d like to have a change of scenery, try something new or take on more responsibility. Or you might have a friend who is interested in volunteering too. All you have to do is ask! Get your hands dirty: Get out on the reserves with the estates team clearing scrub, planting trees or cutting reed. Help care for your favourite place by becoming a warden and looking after one of our reserves, or join a work party at Garston Wood to battle for butterflies. Meet new people: Do you enjoy talking to people? Meet and greet visitors in the Wild Weymouth Discovery Centre or help run our new Arne Visitor Centre - coming Spring 2016! Encourage children to discover their love of wildlife by joining us for a Big Wild Sleep out or a harbour wildlife cruise. Raise support for nature by leading a guided walk or giving a talk in your local community. See wildlife up close: Can you tell a roe deer from a sika deer or a coal tit from a marsh tit? Do you enjoy looking for rare plants or have an in-depth knowledge of wetland moths? Join our species team and help us monitor the wildlife on our reserves. To find out more and view specific roles, visit: rspb.org.uk/volunteering or contact Dorset.Volunteering@rspb.org.uk. Residential Volunteering Residential volunteering is your chance to have a break, try something new or get some experience for your CV. There are over 40 different places to stay and hundreds of things to do. You can spend a week or more on a reserve, and you can do it alone or bring a friend. We have three residential volunteers at Arne, so if it’s something you’re thinking about, why not chat to them about it?
Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
To find out more, visit: rspb.org.uk/volunteering/residential
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Volunteering opportunities with other organisations Fifty percent of our volunteers also volunteer with other organisations. If this is something you would like to do, now or in the future, there are plenty of opportunities across Dorset. Here are just some examples... Organisation
Location
Opportunities
Search
British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
Across Dorset
Bird monitoring
BTO Volunteer Surveys
National Trust
Studland, Corfe, Brownsea, Kingston Lacy
Gardening, practical conservation, public engagement, admin
National Trust Volunteering
Dorset Wildlife Trust
Across Dorset
Visitor centres, admin, practical, surveys
DWT Volunteering
Butterfly Conservation
Lulworth
Local branches, work parties, monitoring, admin
Butterfly Conservation Trust
Durlston Country Park
Swanage
Work parties, visitor centre, Durlston CP surveys, education, admin Volunteering
Moors Valley Country Park
Ringwood
Practical work, walk/cycle leaders
Moors Valley CP – get involved
Dorset Countryside Volunteers (DCV)
Across Dorset
Practical habitat management
Dorset Countryside Volunteers
Bournemouth Council
Across B’mouth, inc Hengistbury Head and River Stour
Visitor centres, practical work, “Friends of...” groups
Bournemouth Council Countryside Volunteers
Poole Council
Across Poole, inc Upton Country Park and Sandbanks
Wardening, education, walk Poole Countryside leaders Volunteers
Amphibian and Reptile Bournemouth Conservation Trust
Work parties, surveying and events
ARC Trust Volunteering
For more opportunities, visit the Do-it website, or contact the Dorset Volunteer Centre...
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Acronym guide We love using acronyms and abbreviations, so here are just a few to help you when you first start. If you’re not sure what something means, just ask. RSPB - Royal Society for the Protection of Birds GNaH - Giving Nature a Home VC - Visitor Centre DC - Discovery Centre ANE - Active Nature Enthusiasts BWSO - Big Wild Sleep Out CoP - Code of Practice H&S - Health and Safety CSW - Child Safety and Welfare ES - Ecological Services RMT - Regional Management Team SWRO - South West Regional Office SWARM - South West Area Reserve Managers VDO - Volunteering Development Officer WEx - Wildlife Explorers VMS - Volunteer Management System (A big, secure database of RSPB volunteer contact details and roles) F2F - Face-to-face HLF - Heritage Lottery Fund CCF - Coastal Communities Fund RA - Risk Assessment AAC - Average Annual Contribution (the amount members pay to join) Other things you might hear us say... Bins - binoculars Scope - telescope ID - identify Sandy or The Lodge - RSPB Head Office in Bedfordshire Atcost - the Estates Team work centre at Arne Farm Mule - off-road vehicles used to get around the reserves The Hut - the visitor reception area in Arne car park Basepoint - our office in Weymouth
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Contacts Name
Email Address
Phone number
Dan Bartlett
daniel.bartlett@rspb.org.uk
Radipole DC - 01305 778313
Helen Booker
Helen.booker@rspb.org.uk
01392 453762
Toby Branston
toby.branston@rspb.org.uk
01929 555986
Sarah-Jane Buckle
sarah-jane.buckle@rspb.org.uk
07703607630
Lynne Burningham
lynne.burningham@rspb.org.uk
07826 919038
Gary Clarke
gary.clarke2@bournemouth.gov.uk
07823534687
Tom Clarke
tom.clarke@rspb.org.uk
07775 912899
Lindsey Death
lindsey.death@rspb.org.uk
01305 778313
Chris Dieck
chris.dieck@rspb.org.uk
07917174469
Rob Farrington
robert.farrington@rspb.org.uk
01929 557823
Jenny Goy
jenny.goy@rspb.org.uk
Wareham Office - 01929 555981
Renny Henderson
renny.henderson@rspb.org.uk
01392 457195
George Hinton
george.hinton@rspb.org.uk
07779 650521
Andy Jones
andrew.jones@rspb.org.uk
07798 534540
Stewart Milburn
stewart.milburn@rspb.org.uk
01929 557820
Dante Munns
dante.munns@rspb.org.uk
01929 555982
Wesley Parnell
wesley.parnell@rspb.org.uk
01929 555987
Luke Phillips
luke.phillips@rspb.org.uk
Arne Hut - 07779 650521
Gilly Robinson
gilly.robinson@rspb.org.uk
01392 453294
Tony Sheridan
tony.sheridan@rspb.org.uk
07774 030303
Juliet Simms
juliet.simms@rspb.org.uk
01392 453757
Mark Singleton
mark.singleton@rspb.org.uk
01929 557824
Alistair Smith Emma Stephens Joe Stockwell
alistair.smith@rspb.org.uk emma.stephens@rspb.org.uk joseph.stockwell@rspb.org.uk
07540 013338 Arne Office - 01929 553360 07779 650521
Sarah Webb Claire Young
sarah.webb@rspb.org.uk claire.young@rspb.org.uk
07772 137405 01929 555983
Have you been given...? “A little time goes a long way” Your role description All health and safety info required for your role and answered the questions on page 20 Expenses info, including bank details form “Insurance - your questions answered”
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Thank you for volunteering!
Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
Name: VMS Number: Role(s): Start Date: