The Vision of the Garnock Connections Landscape Partnership (GCLP) is of a landscape with the River Garnock at its heart, forming a connection from the Muirshiel hills to Irvine Bay and around which the natural, cultural and historical wealth of the valley is enhanced, revealed and made accessible for the benefit of communities now and in the future.
The Garnock Connections area has many, largely unknown, sites of natural and historical significance. Hen harriers can be found on the Muirshiel uplands, and the saltmarshes and mud flats of the unusual double estuary at Irvine provide a vital overwintering refuge for wading birds. The estuary was also once home to the largest dynamite factory in the world. Further inland, the master craftsmen of Beith supplied furniture to ocean liners such as the RMS Queen Mary and the RMS Queen Elizabeth II. Any one of these cultural or natural heritage features should be considered nationally significant in their own right. However, it is the combination of all of them, sharing a rich history of adaptation and change, shaped by the landscape, and linked by the river, which makes the Garnock Connections Landscape Partnership area a truly significant and unique place.
The unique heritage of the Garnock Connections area currently faces a range of local, national, and international threats, from economic deprivation to climate change. However, the various forces for change acting on the area also provide a range of opportunities for people to engage with their heritage and help ensure its survival long into the future.
The 25 projects within the Garnock Connections Landscape Conservation Action Plan (LCAP) are divided into four delivery Themes, linked to the four Garnock Connections Objectives. Through delivering the Community Network theme, people will develop strong connections with their heritage. Through delivering the Knowledge Network theme, heritage will be better understood and valued. Through delivering the Access Network theme, people and places within the landscape will be better connected. Through delivering the Habitat Network theme, habitats and species networks will be enhanced.
Garnock Connections will be delivered by a small team of staff supporting Project Leads from a range of organisations and community groups. Strategic oversight will be provided by the GCLP Board and operational support will be provided by the GCLP Steering Group and specialist Working Groups. The people and communities of the Garnock Connections area are at the core of the programme, and the scheme includes a range of opportunities for training, volunteering, learning and other forms of engagement.
The GCLP has secured funding from the NLHF Landscape Partnership grant programme to deliver Garnock Connections over a four-year period, from April 2018 – March 2022.
As Wildlife Recording Assistant, your role will be to work with the Project Officer to deliver the Go Wild in Garnock project. The role will initially be based at home, but may involve working in the Garnock Connections office and landscape as and when restrictions allow.
As a trainee, you will have access to extra training and support in order to develop your skills and employability within the heritage sector.
Key Responsibilities:
• Organise and deliver a programme of wildlife recording training events
• Engage with partners to enhance the scope and reach of events
• Engage with individuals, community groups and schools to promote wildlife recording across the project landscape
• Work with colleagues to create and manage content for social media, e.g. Facebook, Twitter
• Assist in running virtual events over Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Facebook Live, etc
• Contribute to regular reports, newsletters, press releases, etc
• Visit Garnock Connections project sites
Essential Criteria:
• Educated to GCSE level or higher
• Some knowledge of the theory and practice of delivering a project
• Some familiarity with the identification of different groups of wildlife
• Competent IT user (e.g. MS packages, Outlook, Zoom, etc)
• The ability to communicate about the project in a passionate manner
• An ability to produce clear written communications
• Ability to work well as part of a team, as well as on your own initiative
Desirable Criteria:
• Experience in organising training events, workshops or facilitated discussions and meetings
• Experience of producing written materials, newsletters and similar project related communications
• A driving license or other means of visiting sites within the project landscape
For application/role enquiries please contact
ian.mcnab@rspb.org.uk.
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