RSPB NI Peatland Restoration Taster Session - 15th August

The Peatland Programme are looking for volunteers to help with casual fieldwork on their sites! Please join us on a Volunteer ‘Taster Day’ to see if peatland restoration is something you might be interested in helping with on a more regular basis.

Date: Friday 15th August

Time: 11am until 4pm (approx.)

Location: Just outside Fivemiletown (full location advised nearer the time)

Facilities: We will have a welfare van on site which has a toilet on board, and we will provide basic refreshments like tea, coffee, and biscuits. Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of water with you

Expenses: Any expenses, including mileage and travel costs, will be covered by the RSPB

Footwear: Please wear wellies!

This role is not suitable for under 18’s

Peatlands are unique habitats that store carbon from the atmosphere and support a range of specialist flora and fauna. Unfortunately, the majority of bogs across Northern Ireland have been negatively impacted due to conflicting practices. The RSPB are currently writing restoration plans for a number of sites across the country, and are delivering landscape-scale restoration measures to bring these valuable habitats back to favourable condition.

We need volunteers to help us with fieldwork, habitat management, and potentially community engagement. This will include:

• Cutting and clearing vegetation
• Completing habitat assessments
• Helping at events
• Collecting peat depths
• Recording species

There is no commitment expected; if, afterwards, you feel like volunteering in peatland restoration is not for you then there is no pressure to register as a volunteer. On the other hand, if it is something you think you would like to help with regularly then this is the perfect opportunity to become more familiar with the tasks that you may be involved in. We will have more long-term volunteering opportunities in and around Kilrea, Garvagh, Fivemiletown, and Bellaghy.

Please note: working on peatlands does involve a reasonable amount of physical activity, and you must have the ability to walk long distances over uneven terrain and in unpredictable weather. This role is not suitable for under 18’s.