Opportunity: Nature Reserves Student Placement

Hours: 28 hours per week, worked over 4 days mid-week (with some evening and weekend work)

Based at: Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Headquarters in Kendal, with flexible home-working and frequent travel to sites expected as part of the role.

The successful candidate will receive a monthly bursary of £1200, to help with living costs, along with a training budget of up to £1000.

This is a diverse and exciting opportunity to champion nature reserves and important habitats across Cumbria. Develop practical skills to support and deliver important conservation works to enable nature’s recovery. You’ll gain skills and experience in habitat management whilst exploring and learning on a variety of sites, from the remote to popular visitor areas. 

As part of our student placement scheme, ongoing training will be given to carry out tasks including practical site management, species surveying, data analysis using GIS, and supporting volunteer activities. A full induction will be provided. The post holder will also have opportunities to gain experience supporting partners and other teams across the Trust, too

To apply, please complete an application form and return it with a covering letter or email (maximum 1 page) outlining what you would like to gain from the placement and how your skills and experience meet the requirements outlined in the placement description. 

Please send via email to Claire Shepherd, HR Manager at admin@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk 

PLEASE NOTE: CV's will not be considered.

Postal application should be returned to Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Plumgarths, Crook Road, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 8LX. 

The deadline for applications is 09:00 am on Monday 19 January 2026.

Interviews are likely to be held on Monday 2 February 2026 at our Headquarters in Kendal.

Please also note that all sandwich placements need to be filled by individuals on a recognised sandwich programme or equivalent, while the individuals are enrolled at a university, working towards their undergraduate degree.

Important message: Due to our festive shutdown, we will not be able to respond to emails or answer any placement-related questions or queries from 24 Dec - 2 Jan