Tuesday 30 January 2018

Summer employment opportunities with INHT



The Islay Natural History Trust
is recruiting for the summer season,
April to end of September 2018.

We are a small charity, primarily run by a volunteer committee we will provide active support and training and welcome a keen individuals to help run and manage our varied and exciting range of wildlife themed activities and surveys this summer.

Available job roles:



Islay's Nature Centre:

Visitor Centre Manager

April/May - End September.  Wage dependent on skills and experience.
4-5 days per week depending on availability, 6 hours per day.
The applicant will ideally have a friendly engaging manner, good organisational skills, competence with computers and a good knowledge of Islay.  Lone working required, therefore the ability to work under own initiative essential.  Knowledge of a variety of wildlife is desirable.  You will be required to promote the centre, manage visitor facilities, admissions, shop, displays, the aquatic tanks and organise nature walks and family activities.


Visitor Centre Assistant - Part time/flexible

Availability May - End September.  Wage dependent on skills and experience
This role will be to support the Centre Manager with visitor centre duties, covering days when they are not available and holiday cover.  Ideal for someone interested in Islay's natural history but with limited availability, or for a student during the summer (this position also has the potential to be combined with the Pollinator Ecologist role below).  Must have a friendly and engaging manner.  Some wildlife knowledge is desirable, but not essential. Lone working required therefore the ability to work under own initiative essential.

Islay Verges/Pollinator Initiative:
Islay Verges Project aims to record the floral and pollinator species interest in 112 km of the roadside verges of Islay.

Floral surveys:  Ecologist/Botanist with proven skills in vegetation survey techniques  
3-3.5 month post April - August.  £12.50/hour based on an 8hr day, c. 20 days per month.  Can be worked as self employed contract.  You will be expected to organise your own work plan to achieve the survey goals.
Would suit graduate with interest in pursuing an ecological career in botanical surveys.  Must have proven skills in plant identification and standard survey techniques; some training will be given where needed.  Excellent organisation skills and the ability to manage their own time effectively.  Lone working required so the ability to work under own initiative essential.  Must have an accurate approach to data gathering and recording.  Happy to work in variable weather conditions and preferably with their own transport, car or bicycle.

Pollinator Surveys:  Ecologist with skills in insect identification (Butterflies; Bees and other pollinators)

Requires availability for approx. 8 days per 6 week period mid April to Mid September £12.50/hour based on a 5 hour day covering routes four times through season.  You will be expected to organise your own work plan to achieve the survey goals.
Must have skills in Butterfly and Bee identification and the ability and interest to develop these skills.  Some training will be given where needed.  Some lone working required so the ability to work under own initiative essential.  Must have an accurate approach to data gathering and recording.  Flexibility in availability is essential in order to fit in with suitable survey weather conditions.  Preferably with their own transport car or bicycle.

Depending on the skills and interests of applicants it may be possible to combine some of the job responsibilities of the Verges project with the roles at the Islay Nature Centre and vice versa. 

For further details please e-mail: inht@islaynaturalhistory.org or call Fiona 01496850607.  Application by CV with references via email or post to INHT, Main Street, Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay PA48 7TX. 

Closing date: 28th February 2018



Saturday 13 January 2018

Next Trust talk - Serengeti Safari 23rd January











Following a recent safari trip to Africa, Malcolm Ogilvie will be giving us a talk on his Serengeti Safari undertaken at the end of last year, we look forward to images of lions, leopards and much more.  Please join us on Tuesday 23rd Jan at 7.30pm at the Nature Centre in Port Charlotte. 

Everyone is welcome, small admission charge with tea and ginger cake to follow.


Sad loss of our former Chairperson and avid supporter Carl Reavey

We at the Trust were deeply saddened by the sudden loss this week, too early in life, of our former Chairperson Carl Reavey.  An inspirational and enthusiastic advocate of nature and history, he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.  

He joined the Trust management committee in 2002 going on to become Chairperson in 2010 (until 2014).  He had an entrepreneurial spirit and his business knowledge and expertise was so helpful in guiding the direction and projects the Trust developed.  

Keen to learn - looking at beetles in cow pats with Crystal Maw



His connections with Bruichladdich Distillery helped us to inform and enthuse the public on the wonderful natural history of Islay through welcome evenings hosted at the Distillery and funding to help the Trust through some difficult times, along with his support of the current project to increase our knowledge of Islay's roadside verges through active surveys and data recording, for which we are so grateful.

Photographing INHT activities
- Owl ringing at Octomore













He was an engaging speaker, providing entertaining talks and photos for our blogs and such enthusiasm and understanding of the natural world for which we will remember him with great fondness. He will be greatly missed by so many on Islay, and we would like to pass on our deepest sympathies to Jan, Alistair and all his family and friends. May the memories inspire and give comfort into the future.
 














Fiona MacGillivray