Part-Time Tree Nursery Assistant

Location: Clunes Forest School - Spean Bridge - Lochaber - West Highlands
Benefits: Pension, 26 days Annual Leave + public holidays (pro-rata)
Working hours: Part-time 0.6 / 3 days / 22.5 hrs per week, some weekend and evening work
Role Duration: 8 Months

Summary

Be part of a unique partnership project of landscape-scale restoration at Loch Arkaig. Arkaig Community Forest (ACF) is looking to recruit a seasonal Tree Nursery Assistant to help us grow a range of native tree species which will be used to restore Caledonian pine forest and expand native woodland in Lochaber.

ACF has created a native Tree Nursery in partnership with Woodland Trust Scotland to help meet the growing demand for local provenance native trees. Further funding has been secured from the Nature Restoration Fund (NatureScot) for a landscape scale partnership project with Woodland Trust Scotland and Achnacarry Estate, enabling this new role to support the running of the tree nursery.

This post will be a part-time position 3 days / 22.2 hours per week and is subject to a flexible work pattern, including some evenings and weekends. Work in the tree nursery varies throughout the season and tasks will include ground cultivation, sowing, pricking out seedlings, transplanting, lifting and packing trees as well as weeding and watering. You will work together directly with the Tree Nursery Manager as well as our team that includes a Development Officer, Woodland Trust Scotland team members and ACF Trustees.

Tasks for the role:

• Working outdoors in all weather and sometimes in remote places for collecting seeds. Tree ID skills are beneficial in this role. Lone working, although usually as part of a small team.
• Working as part of a team, collaborating closely with the Tree Nursery Manager and having availability to meet the Tree Nursery work schedule.
• Careful handling of plants to ensure optimum survival, compost maintenance, ground cultivation, sowing, transplanting, watering, lifting, grading and packing trees. Seed and cuttings collection.
• Maintaining high standards of hygiene within the nursery in accordance with our Tree Health Policies.
• Event assistance, supporting ACF volunteer sessions and being a welcoming face for daily interaction with the public.
• Accuracy in recording tasks, maintaining stock inventory, seed materials and physical labelling. Keeping a database and records up to date.
• Practical maintenance skills, including cleaning tools after use and a variety of groundskeeping tasks around the Tree Nursery and Clunes Forest School.

Person Specifications

• Happy to work both independently and within a small team.
• Flexibility and a friendly personable attitude.
• Enthusiasm for nature restoration and tree production
• Awareness of the importance of biosecurity for protecting trees
• Willingness to learn, communicate closely with other staff, and help take responsibility for tree health and propagation outcomes are crucial for the role.

This is a seasonal role from April to the end of November. We are looking for someone to do a part-time 0.6 FTE, 3 days or 22.2 hrs per week. Weekend or evening work may occasionally be requested.

Arkaig Community Forest reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs and ability at the end of the contract term.

Please send in your CV and a Covering Letter telling us what makes you a good candidate for the role.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position in person on 6th March at Clunes Forest School.

For any further information don’t hesitate to contact the Tree Nursery manager, Anna Macfie at treenursery@arkaig.org or call 07534 673 926.

Arkaig Community Forest is an equal opportunities employer.

Closing Date: Monday 26thof February