- Do you love the outdoors and wildlife?
- Would you like to lead local Nature walks in and around sections of the new Forth Meadow Community Greenway?
- Can you help local people connect with nature on their own doorstep?
- Sound like this could be you?
- The Role: ‘On Common Ground’ Nature Guide
- Location: Forth Meadow Community Greenway
- Time commitment: 30 hours free training
- Type: Volunteer
- Closing date: Early spring
Why become a Nature Guide?
Never more so than now is it so important to connect people to nature and to protect our vulnerable wildlife, but it is also important to maintain and improve our own mental and physical health as well. We are nature and we come from nature, in the modern world its easy to forget that. If we protect and promote nature we are nature protecting itself! Being outside, connecting with the outdoors and connecting with people is vital.
You want to meet and help people discover and connect with nature along the individual sections of the greenway.
As a Nature Guide, you’ll get access resources and training to improve your knowledge and to lead and share it with others in your area.
A TCV member will also be available to help and provide you with information and basic training to prepare you for part of your role as a Nature Guide
You’ll also receive be free Emergency First Aid and Mediation training.
What does a Nature Guide do?
Your role as a Nature Guide will involve:
- Leading small groups of people through sections of the greenway. Giving talks on features.
- Encouraging local communities to engage with and enjoy their local green space, promoting the benefits of nature and being outdoors.
- Identifying certain species and types of habitat that exist along the greenway
- Be able to conduct and implement risk assessments and safeguarding procedures
- Conduct surveys and record presence of certain species (both priority and invasive)
- Help maintain greenspaces by conducting litter picks and reporting invasive species
- Signpost people to appropriate resources for issues such as injured wildlife, wildlife crime, pollution incidents etc.
What we’re looking for in a Nature Guide
- A passion for nature and greenspaces but no experience or special skills are required.
- A familiarity with sections of the Forth Meadow Green Way.
- Ability to complete necessary paperwork and attend training courses.
- Have a flexible and understanding approach to the requirements of various individuals and groups.
- Be inclusive and willing to help people in the surrounding area get out and onto the greenway to enjoy walking, spotting and identifying wildlife.
Time commitment
- To commit to 30 hours of free training in Spring 2022.
- Attend the required training provided in accordance with current Covid-19 government restrictions and NHS guidance.
- To offer led walks on and around Forth Meadow Community Greenway ideally 1 hour per week following the training.
Training and support offered
You’ll receive:
- Mediation training
- Nature Guide training
- Safeguarding training
- First Aid training
You’ll also have direct contact with a TCV volunteer coordinator.
When agreed in advance, travel expenses and the cost of lunch at any full-day training and volunteering sessions can be reimbursed.
You’ll also get priority attendance to any of our TCV Outdoor Environmental Workshops eg (building nest boxes, Insect hotels etc)
Our partnership
The Conservation Volunteers works in partnership with Belfast City Council, and is supported by the EU funded Peace IV Action Plan designed to promote “Shared Spaces & Services” along the Forth Meadow Community Greenway.
Outcomes & abilities for a volunteer Nature Guide
- You’ll be able to promote natural elements and environmental features of the Forth Meadow Greenway.
- You will receive training to enable you to lead group walks safely and successfully.
- You’ll be able to plan routes, risk assess, and lead and deliver cross-community group walks on sections of the greenway.
- You’ll have a good foundational knowledge as to what flora and fauna is in a particular section. For example: What trees, shrubs, aquatic birds are in Section 3 Springfield Dam section of the FM greenway.
- You’ll be able to recommend book and online resources to participants who you guide to help increase their own knowledge in topics such as Tree ID, Wildflower ID, Bird ID.
This project is supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body