Working with Rivers graduate placement scheme

Location: Cherry Park, Inveraray, Argyll, PA32 8XE – We have a policy of flexible home and office working blended with the fieldwork program.

Description of organisation and placement purpose: Argyll Fisheries Trust employs two full-time staff and a part-time administrator in addition to contractors when needed on specific projects. We currently undertake a range of fishery management related projects which include investigating the movement of salmon smolts in relation to marine migration and in-river hydroelectric schemes, monitoring of the sea lice burdens of sea trout in marine habitats, juvenile fish and fish habitat surveys in rivers, river habitat improvement works, and assessments of adult salmon returns to local rivers. The purpose of the placement is to provide hands-on experience in a wide range of fisheries work which will provide a foundation to working and building a career in the fisheries and river management sector.

Main responsibilities: The placement will be embedded within our team and be responsible for supporting staff in all our existing projects including fieldwork, reporting and development of new workstreams. Skills and experience offered to employees, demonstration of commitment to fair work practices and quality of line management arrangements.

AFT have a flexi-time working arrangement to assist employees in achieving a healthy work-life balance. The intern will be line-managed by the Trust Director of Operations / Senior Biologist and have access to our existing staff and board of Directors for grievance resolution and general support. The intern will also be fully versed in our Health & Safety Policy, grievance policy, disciplinary policy and competency and appraisal framework. 

The skills and experience offered but are not limited to:

• Green revetment installation: Cutting, gathering and transport of woody brash, in-river installation of brash revetment, wiring of brash to posts and fencing. 
• Woody debris installation: Assist chain saw operators, winching, placement and wiring in-river tree limbs. 
• Riparian habitat restoration: Fencing and tree planting.
• Water temperature monitoring: Download and deployment of water temperature data loggers. 
• Water quality monitoring:  Undertake kick samples of aquatic invertebrates.
• Sea trout sampling: Assist in deploying and fishing a seine net and a fyke net, identification, counting and recording of sea lice and ensuring the welfare of fish. 
• Salmon smolt trapping: Assist with deployment and maintenance of a rotary screw trap, measuring and recording of fish data. 
• Acoustic tracking of fish: Assist with the maintenance of a network of acoustic receivers which record the presence of tagged fish. 
• Surveys of Juvenile fish by electrofishing: Assist in planning, undertaking and data analysis from surveys of fish in rivers. 
• Equipment maintenance: Ensuring all equipment is maintained in good order.

More information about this employer can be found at:

• Argyll Fisheries Trust website

Location: The project will be based at Ayrshire Rivers Trusts office at Braeside outside Mauchline. ART operate on flexible working arrangements with all staff to fit in with the needs/requirements of employees and whilst much of the project will be based in the field there will be scope for remote working.

Description of organisation and internship purpose: Ayrshire Rivers Trust (ART) are an environmental conservation charity working to protect and improve freshwater habitats and riparian areas across Ayrshire. Currently employing a team of six dedicated professionals, graduates applying for this role will have access to staff with a variety of backgrounds all with a wealth of experience on river and environmental management.

The placement will receive practical on the job skills development, facilitated by Trust staff and supplemented with external high quality training opportunities to help the applicant secure future employment. The successful applicant will be involved in the delivery of river conservation and management projects including green engineering, smolt trapping, tree propagation, planting, invasive non-native plant and animal control, fish and invertebrate monitoring as well as habitat surveying.  Another key element of the placement will be learning/enhancing desk-based skills to give the interns a suite of transferable skills.

ART work across 6 river catchments and numerous coastal burns. Interns will be exposed to a variety of different river catchments all with unique issues and opportunities for learning.

There will also be opportunities to develop a range of soft skills that include time management, record keeping, professional conduct and creativity.

Main responsibilities: The placement will support Trust staff in a variety of ways:

• Collecting materials for use in river bank and green engineering projects.

• Assembling and installing green engineering materials in rivers using hand tools– brash bundles, willow stakes, willow spiling, tree planting with guards and stakes etc.

• Propagating, caring and planting trees (including maintenance and planting design).

• Following appropriate training, the placement will assist with invasive non-native plant species control. The four priority species in Ayrshire are American skunk cabbage, giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam each requiring different approaches and skills.

• Smolt trapping – assisting biologists to set, operate smolt traps and record data.

• Fish rescues – the placement will assist biologists with capturing and handling fish using a variety of techniques that may range from electrofishing to seine netting. On the job training will be provided in conjunction with formal accredited training administered by the Scottish Fisheries Coordination Centre should this be available within the project period.

• The placement will assist biologists with investigative and environmental monitoring surveys. This may include aerial surveys using drones, walkover surveys, or as part of a team delivering scientific assessments. Appropriate training and supervision will be provided.

• Macroinvertebrate sampling and sorting – macroinvertebrates are an index widely used to determine water quality or long-term changes to water quality. The placement will assist with collecting macroinvertebrate samples and then sample processing before analysis.

• Small scale barrier easements: retrofitting baffles to culverts allowing fish passage.

• Project development – the placement may assist with future project development. They may be expected to gather evidence and justification for future initiatives and assist with applications for funding etc.

• The placement will be expected to participate in data entry and analysis for report production. Data collected from surveys is generally entered into our database or catalogued storage systems and this task is shared by all staff.

• Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Health Safety and Environment Test for operative’s accreditation may be provided.

• Adhering to all health and safety rules and regulations.

• Contribute to establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with landowners, partners and local communities.

A range of field and desk related skills will be gained; ART believe this is crucial to the employability of the individuals. Skills such as data handling, use of scientific principles to design surveys and approach tasks ranging from INNPS control to tree seed collection and data cataloguing are all fundamental to working in the environmental sector.

More information about this employer can be found at:

• Facebook page
• Twitter page
• Ayrshire Rivers Trust website

Location: The river Beauly catchment and Beauly Fishery Board Office, Beauly (hybrid working/ some home working possible).

Description of organisation and placement purpose: Beauly Fishery Board’s work involves protecting salmon, sea trout and other fish and freshwater species in the Beauly catchment through improving river habitat, land-use and fish passage. We work with a wide range of stakeholders (including SSE, landowners, anglers and volunteers). The aim of the placement is to introduce you to a wide range of practical fishery management tasks and assess if river restoration is necessary in relation to hydro dams. The placement will involve smolt monitoring, juvenile fish surveys, fish habitat walkovers and invasive species control as well as other tasks. Additionally, further development opportunities may be facilitated by our neighbouring catchments.

Main responsibilities:

- Daily smolt trap checking (April-May) with staff to help improve smolt survival in the catchment.

- Hydro-morphology walkovers with the Senior Biologist (Farrar and Lower Beauly). This work involves assessing substrate and fish habitat in relation to hydro-dams in the catchment (May-June) to see if habitat restoration is necessary.

- Electro-fishing (July-September).

- Working with volunteers to deliver invasive species control (Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed), July-September.

- Accurate data entry (smolt trapping and electro-fishing).

- Data analysis

- Report drafting

- Assisting the Fisheries Officer with other tasks (e.g. bird surveys, bailiffing)

- Other tasks (e.g. riparian tree mapping, drone work)

More information about this employer can be found at:

• Facebook page
• Beauly District Fishery Board website

• Call Ruth Watts for more info (07391553647)

Location: The position would likely involve a combination of home, office and field working. Our Scotland-based offices are located in Inverness and Stirling, so a commutable distance from either of those locations would be preferable.

Description of organisation and internship purpose: cbec is a leading UK environmental consultancy specialising in eco-engineering for the water resources industry.

Our projects involve the delivery of ecologically sensitive, sustainable, and nature-based solutions in river and wetland restoration and management, as well as natural flood management. Our staff have a broad range of backgrounds that allow us to specialise across several disciplines. Thus we are able to apply our experience and expertise in geomorphology, hydrology, hydraulic modelling, restoration design and stakeholder engagement to a range of river and wetland management issues. Many of our staff have research backgrounds and interests and therefore our designs are underpinned by state-of-the art scientific understanding. Our clients are offered a range of field-based services including fluvial audits, topographic surveys and sediment sampling, and these also feed into our design process.

As a relatively small company, we offer a flexible service ranging from provision of bespoke, reach-specific advice to end-to-end delivery of large, multi-disciplinary, catchment-scale projects. Operating at these different scales allows us to provide an holistic approach to renaturalisation and restoration, natural flood management, habitat and biodiversity enhancement and improvements to WFD morphological and ecological status. Our work also balances the demands of traditional engineering with process-based restoration, adopting a ‘designing with nature’ approach across all projects to deliver sustainable restoration and natural flood management designs that require minimal long-term maintenance.

We acknowledge the importance of encouraging employment within this sector and are keen to be part of such efforts. The purpose of this placement within cbec would be to provide the graduate with a broad understanding of all tasks involved in the delivery of our projects. This will be achieved through the graduate supporting our team with ongoing desk and field-based project work, as well as providing opportunity for them to learn some of the wider, operational aspects of the business. The placement will be provided with appropriate training, sufficient to make a significant contribution to our project work. They will be given the opportunity to shadow cbec staff to provide a comprehensive grounding across company activities.

Main responsibilities:  We expect the placement to involve (but not be limited to) the following tasks:

− Supporting our field team with topographic surveys, fluvial audits and other geomorphological assessments, and potentially peatland surveys.

− Supporting processing tasks and analysis using data generated from field surveys.

− Contributing to desk-based assessments, reporting and GIS (supported by our technical team).

− In-house training opportunities, including a range of online courses available to work through.

− There will be opportunity for the placement to be involved in other operational aspects of our business such as marketing and tendering, to provide them with a comprehensive introduction to what we do and how we do it. They will be supported throughout, both by relevant technical team members and the designated line manager.

More information about this employer can be found at:

• cbec eco-engineering UK website

Location: The Offices, Avochie Stables, AB547YY

Description of organisation and placement purpose: The Trust was established in 2001 and has the following aims and objectives:

• To conserve, protect and rehabilitate salmon, seatrout and trout and other indigenous wildlife and to promote the ecological cycle within the Deveron catchment area.

• To raise people’s awareness of conservation and protected areas by commissioning research and publishing the results for the public’s benefit.

The purpose of the placement is to provide an opportunity for a recent graduate to gain valuable and varied on the job experience within an established rivers Trust. The placement will also increase the capacity of our trust to plan and take forward ongoing projects such as habitat restoration schemes.

Read the latest Deveron Bogie & Isla Annual Report and Accounts 2021/22.

Main responsibilities: The graduate will be given the opportunity to take forward habitat restoration schemes by liaising with landowners and potential funders. The graduate will also be given the opportunity to work with our existing team on fishery protection, fish monitoring, fish tagging, tree planting and invasive species control.

More information about this employer can be found at:

• Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust website

Location: The intern will be based at the FNLRT Office, Logie Steading, Forres, IV36 2QN. The post will be outdoor working across the Findhorn catchment, particularly, in the upper reaches. Provision for home working can also be incorporated.

Description of organisation and placement purpose: The Findhorn Nairn & Lossie Rivers Trust (FNLRT) is a small environmental charity undertaking monitoring, consultations, restoration and advisory roles for the benefit and improvement of our three river catchments.

We have recently started Findhorn Water Shed Initiative (FWI) which seeks to bring together communities, landowners, businesses, farmers, foresters, land managers, local authorities, and educational institutions to work in collaboration at nature’s scale to sequester carbon, restore habitat, and mitigate the impacts of the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss for future generations. The project has a strong initial focus on the establishment of a network of riparian woodland along the banks of the River Findhorn and its tributaries, as well as the implementation of peatland restoration works, to support the restoration of wild Atlantic salmon populations. The programme has recently gained funding from the Just Transition Fund (£970k) and is gathering support form landowners, community groups and other organisations.

A key part of the FWI is to develop forestry plans with a strong riparian element and to develop a suite of monitoring datasets to help determine the current baseline conditions within the upper Findhorn catchment. We are offering a placement within the Findhorn Watershed Initiative to assist with the development of the monitoring programme. 

Main responsibilities: The successful candidate will receive training in,

•  a variety of survey techniques for monitoring, fish, invertebrates, river habitat, temperature and flow, remnant forest habitat, conducting drone surveys and aerial photography, etc.

• Compiling, analysing and mapping the survey data.

You will also gain experience in,

•  collecting data in a remote location,

•  collaborating with small teams,

•  working with specialist survey teams,

•  developing baseline surveys and establishing long term monitoring systems,

•  consulting with landowners, community groups and volunteers,

•  delivering information on the programmes to the various stakeholders through talks, meetings and social media.

More information about this employer can be found at:

• Facebook page
• Twitter page
• The Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Rivers Trust website

Location: We work across Dumfries and Galloway Region (SW Scotland) from our office in Newton Stewart. We are able to provide some ‘working from home’ but field work must take priority.

Description of organisation and placement purpose: GFT is a conservation charity working across the freshwaters of Dumfries and Galloway including eight main river catchments.  The aims of GFT are met by undertaking practical works, education initiatives, focussed research projects and delivering key services to member waters and the wider community.  Evidence based management underpins this work program.  We have a particular focus on increasing the climate change resilience of local freshwater habitats.

We would like to offer the opportunity for a placement to join our team to work closely with our 6 full time biologists / project officers on a range of projects.  Where there is an interest we would also encourage the placement to run their own projects – supported by GFT staff – while they are with us on specific issues of their interest. 

Main responsibilities: The placement will have the opportunity to be involved in a varied work programme delivered by 6 specialised GFT staff. This will include helping to design, plan and deliver various and varied work programmes. The work will include:

• Designing and delivering biological surveys (including electrofishing, habitat, aquatic invertebrates, invasive non-native species (INNS), Freshwater pearl mussels, NA signal crayfish).
• Other data collection (including maintaining a VAKI fish counter, running a network of temperature loggers, water quality monitoring sondes, sampling elvers).
• Project design, planning and delivery of practical works (INNS control, habitat restoration, increasing climate resilience, riparian tree planting schemes, instream woody debris addition, gravel addition below a hydro dam, tracking salmon smolts, monitoring coarse fish populations using anglers catch, possibly peatland restoration). 
• Data analysis, GIS mapping and report writing.
• Learning how to produce Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS).
• Assist in delivering education work, community events, information stands at shows and volunteer training events.

More information about this employer can be found at:

• Facebook page
• Twitter page
• Galloway Fisheries Trust website

Location: Kyle of Sutherland, Ardgay, Sutherland. Transport or carshare to Ardgay from the Inverness area can potentially be provided one or two days per week.

Description of organisation and internship purpose:

Description of Organisation: Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust is a registered Scottish Charity conserving and restoring the river and loch systems of the Kyle of Sutherland.  Part of the Trust’s focus is on creating and restoring a network of native riverbank woodlands to improve habitats and climate resilience. Native riverbank woodland provides shade and helps to keep rivers cool during hot summers. As well as supporting Atlantic salmon and trout, riparian trees can also support invertebrates, bats, otters and many bird species. The Trust is aiming to deliver riparian planting schemes under a nationwide 'Riverwoods' initiative. We have partnered with The European Nature Trust, providing a potential opportunity for the intern to learn woodland management skills at Alladale Wilderness Reserve. The Trust has a long history of undertaking other restoration initiatives including barrier/obstacle removal and instream habitat remediation projects. Additionally, mitigation projects such as the trapping and transportation of salmon smolts are undertaken annually with scientific monitoring and research also being conducted as part of the mitigation programme. This is undertaken in conjunction with SSE.

Placement Purpose:

•  To inspire a future career in river restoration.

•  To develop knowledge of native woodlands and current barriers to woodland expansion in the riparian zone.

•  To develop understanding of the benefits provided by native woodland to river habitats, species, people and communities.

•  To gain practical and theoretical experience of riparian woodland design and management.

•  To gain experience of modern field survey techniques, remote data collection, and computer-based collation, mapping and presentation.

•  To gain an introduction to funding options for native woodlands and green finance.

•  To gain an understanding of instream habitat remediation techniques.

•            To gain insights into salmon mitigation and monitoring techniques.

Main responsibilities: The graduate will become immersed and given responsibility within our Riverwoods project work which includes site survey and woodland design, peatland survey, concept mapping, constraints mapping and discussion with stakeholders and landowners, Forestry Grant Scheme applications and funding applications, tree seed sourcing and ground preparation. We are also looking to develop a small native tree nursery during 2023, providing another potential learning opportunity. Additionally, there will be opportunities to participate in salmon mitigation and monitoring activities.

More information about this employer can be found at:

• Facebook page
• Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries website

Location: Loch Lomond catchment area

Description of organisation and placement purpose: The Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust (LLFT) is an environmental charity which exists to champion the conservation of Loch Lomond's native fish populations and their habitats.

According to its Articles of Association the charity has two clear objectives:

1. To advance, for public benefit, environmental protection and improvement and to advance animal welfare by conserving and enhancing all species of freshwater fish and their environments and all fishery resources primarily, but not limited, to the inland and coastal waters of Loch Lomond and River Leven Catchment Area.

2. To advance the education of the public and any association, company, local authority, administrative or government agency or public body or representative body in the understanding of aquatic ecosystems, including their fauna, flora, economic or social activity, river catchment management and the need for and benefits of, protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement or aquatic environments.

The Trust takes its name from, and operates around, the Loch Lomond catchment. As well as working in Loch Lomond, it also works within all the Loch Lomond tributaries, as well as the River Leven and its tributaries. The Trust also works on the north shore of the Clyde estuary including the burns that enter the estuary, from Dumbarton, downstream to the Kilcreggan peninsula.

The purpose of the graduate placement scheme is to introduce the successful applicant to a busy fisheries trust environment in order that we can deliver our objectives while at the same time preparing the applicant to make a successful transition into full time roles within the industry.  In the first working with rivers placement scheme the trust successful delivered on this aim – with our 2 trainees both finding full time roles with fisheries trusts.

Main responsibilities: Placements will be expected to undertake the full range of duties of permanent Trust staff.  These will include:

INNS control –

i)            Control of giant hogweed utilising spraying and manual eradication techniques

ii)           Control of American mink, utilising traps

Habitat surveying and management

i)            Surveying and management of previously planted trees / shrubs

ii)           Surveying of riparian zones, identifying new planting sites

Fisheries management

i)            Undertake smolt monitoring within Endrick SAC utilising Trust rotary screw trap

ii)           Liaise with SCENE re west coast smolt tracking project

iii)         Undertaking electrofishing work to support the trust annual electrofishing programme, including the delivery of NEPS if applicable

Habitat restoration

i)            Undertake habitat restoration work utilising brash banking /willow weave

ii)           Undertake habitat restoration work utilising placement of woody debris

Community engagement

i)            Participate in summer angling school

ii)           Participate in local community summer events

More information about this employer can be found at:

• Facebook page
• The Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust website

Location: Based at our office on the outskirts of Inverness, but the role could potentially cover activities across the entire Ness catchment. Assuming adequate connectivity, working from home will be possible when fieldwork or joint working is not required.

Description of organisation and internship purpose: Ness District Salmon Fishery Board (DSFB) is a long-established fishery management organisation, responsible for fisheries, conservation, restoration awareness raising and promotion across a wide range of issues in the freshwater and inshore marine environment. Originally established to manage salmon (and sea trout fisheries) we are now involved in holistic catchment management, including all aspects of freshwater ecology. Locally, we are regarded as the go-to organisation for a wide range of issues affecting freshwater, and inshore marine ecology, including developments, mitigation and invasives. Aside from salmon, we have expertise in freshwater pearl mussels, eels and invasive management. Staff members deliver training on a number of subjects for organisations such as SFCC and NatureScot. 

Habitat restoration and climate change mitigation are focus areas. An example is the recent commissioned and published environmental consultants (cbec) a report “River Ness Habitat Restoration Feasibility Study”. The River Ness mainstem is the most urbanised highland river with a wide array of pressures including historic weirs and lades, bank revetments, gravel starvation, river bed armouring and a general lack of habitat diversity. The draft report has identified natural flood management actions such as placement of large woody structures and the re-connection of closed side channels. We would expect the trainee to develop a key role in the delivery of actions identified within this report.

We will use this placement to provide a broad range of training and experience for potential industry recruits. The placement will involve practical and desk-based work in the field of river restoration, research projects, fishery management, invasive non-native species management, freshwater conservation, climate change mitigation and stakeholder engagement.

Main responsibilities: NDSFB has a busy portfolio of activities, projects and routine tasks, with the broad work patterns dictated by seasonality. The period of this placement covers the fieldwork and research season, and the successful applicant is guaranteed an interesting, fulfilling and rewarding placement. On offer will be a diverse mix of research, fieldwork, project planning and implementation.

Some of the main activities that the recruit will be involved with includes:

• River restoration. NDSFB recently commissioned environmental consultants cbec to produce a report “River Ness Habitat Restoration Feasibility Study”. The River Ness mainstem is the most urbanised highland river with a wide array of pressures including historic weirs and lades, bank revetments, gravel starvation, river bed armouring and a general lack of habitat diversity. The draft report has identified natural flood management actions such as placement of large woody structures and the re-connection of closed side channels. The cbec report is due to be published in early 2022 and NDSFB will be seeking to prioritise identified restoration actions. This placement is well timed for the successful applicant to be involved in the early stages of transforming restoration opportunities into actions on the ground. The applicant can expect to be involved in project identification, assessment, habitat (fishery and general ecology) surveying, and options appraisal.

• In conjunction with the burgeoning renewables industry we are developing a salmon smolt trapping and tracking project to investigate the impact of renewables in salmon as they pass through Loch Ness. The applicant will be given an unparalleled opportunity to become involved in a comprehensive smolt tagging and tracking project in Loch Ness, studying the movements of salmon smolts emanating from three rivers, into Loch Ness, following their migration to the Moray Firth. Tasks involved will include assisting with smolt trapping, handling and tagging, smolt release, including trap and truck, receiver deployment etc. The applicant will be a key member of the smolt tagging team and will be responsible for recording, data entry and liaison with partner organisations.

• INNS control and management. Spring is peak time for mink control, as well as management of invasive riparian plant, species such as Giant hogweed. NDSFB is a key partner in the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (SISI) and is responsible for delivering a number of actions within the Ness catchment. Applicants will have the opportunity to work with NDSFB staff and SISI project officers in the delivery of INNS control, surveying, volunteer liaison and communicating with SISI project managers.

• Climate change mitigation.  Water temperatures in the River Ness mainstem are uniquely moderated by Loch Ness. Ness salmon are amongst the latest spawning in Scotland, a consequence of the high mean temperatures. Temperature loggers have been installed, in the Ness, and key tributaries, to help understand the influence of temperatures on the Ness salmon spawning. There are opportunities to expand our knowledge of river temperatures across the catchment, in particular in the upper tributaries. The trainee will learn how to download, and process, water temperature data from our network of temperature loggers.  

• Stakeholder engagement. The Ness is a heavily modified catchment, impacted by historic weirs and mills, the Caledonian Canal and a diverse range of renewable generation. All of these modifications, plus many others, have had a negative impact. Resolving and mitigating issues involves dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders. The trainee will have opportunities to attend stakeholder meetings, including with external, commercial, stakeholders which will help developing skills in this important aspect of work. The NDSFB also works closely with a wide range of external partners including NatureScot, SEPA, Scottish Canals & UHI. Opportunities will be explored for the facilitation of joint working with external partners during the placement.

More information about this employer can be found at:

• Ness District Salmon Fishery Board website

Location: Auldgirth, Dumfries.  

Description of organisation and placement purpose: The Nith Catchment Fishery Trust (NCFT) is a charitable organisation whose aims are to conserve and enhance all native freshwater fish and their habitats located within the inland and coastal waters of the River Nith catchment and to advance the education of a wide range of people and organisations with regard to aquatic ecosystems and river catchment management.  The Trust works towards and assists in the protection, conservation, restoration, and improvement of aquatic environments. Work carried out by NCFT includes juvenile fish surveys, habitat surveys, invertebrate surveys, invasive non-native species monitoring and control, education and awareness raising, habitat improvement, river restoration and fisheries consultation.

A placement with the Nith Catchment Fishery Trust will provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to learn about all aspects of fishery management and gain skills and experience in freshwater fisheries ecosystem management.  The River Nith has been involved in large scale river restoration projects in the past and is currently developing plans for new river restoration projects.  The successful candidate would be involved in assisting in the development of these projects.  The importance of developing working relationships with stakeholders and all associated industries with the potential to impact the aquatic environment, will be an essential component of this placement.

Main responsibilities: Key items of work that the intern will assist with delivering include:

-             Monitoring and control of invasive species

-             Negotiating with landowners/agents

-             Conducting aquatic surveys including fish, invertebrate and habitat

-             Production of reports to support fishery management

-             Development of new and maintenance of existing habitat schemes

-             Assist with monitoring of juvenile and adult salmon and trout populations

-             Data handling

-             Use of digital mapping systems to support restorations plans and guide management

-             Equipment maintenance

-             Delivery of education and outreach projects

More information about this employer can be found at:

• Facebook page
• Twitter page
• Nith Catchment Fisheries Trust website
• Instagram page

Location/Main Base: Tweed Forum’s office at Old Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders, TD6 9DF.  Hybrid Working Opportunity: To be largely office based but to work flexibly (i.e. from home and office) when appropriate, to make the most efficient use of time and resources, from undertaking site surveys to facilitating conservation work programmes, such as riparian woodland planting opportunities. To gain experience of working as part of a team and to build self-confidence.

Description of Organisation and placement purpose: Tweed Forum is an environmental charitable trust, operating within the Tweed Catchment since 1991. The organisation promotes the sustainable use of the whole of the Tweed Catchment through holistic and integrated management and planning. We work with farmers and land managers (in close partnership with our 25 organisational members), to protect, enhance and restore the rich natural, built and cultural heritage of the River Tweed and its tributaries. The Forum works at both the strategic level and the project level to deliver practical farmland conservation projects on the ground. Tweed Forum is recognised as a world leader in promoting and delivering sustainable land management practices. In recognition of its achievements, Tweed Forum has won many local, national and international awards over the years.

The aim of the placement is to offer a hands on training opportunity to an enthusiastic young graduate looking to enter the environmental land management work force. The successful applicant will learn skills in how to scope out, facilitate and deliver farm woodland projects, focussing on riparian (and other) woodland planting and enhancement programmes. There will also be opportunities to learn about other Tweed Forum projects such as: Peatland restoration, River restoration and Invasive Non-Native Species Control.

Main responsibilities: To work alongside Tweed Forum staff to gain as wide a range of knowledge and experience as possible of mixed, native and riparian woodland planting and management work To assist also with visiting farms and scoping out and bringing forward, a range of woodland planting scheme opportunities.

GIS Mapping Skills: To work with the GIS mapping team to make the most effective use of existing and new land management data sets. 

More information about this employer can be found at:

• Facebook page
• Twitter page 
• Tweed Forum website