Ruby Merriman - Bluespaces Delivery Manager Northumbrian Water
Hello!
My name is Ruby and I am the new Conservation Volunteer Coordinator for Durham Wildlife Trust.
My role is all about building our capacity to do more for nature through volunteers. The role has two main focuses – the development of our volunteer warden scheme and overseeing the Durham Wildlife Trust traineeship.
We currently have some exceptional Volunteer Wardens who increase our presence on reserves, and help us to manage them to a higher standard. This role will soon be upgraded to Volunteer Reserve Ranger, and I will be working with volunteers and reserve staff to improve and develop the role in the coming months. My job is to ensure our rangers are well-supported and recognised for their work, used to their full potential, and their work is fully integrated into our reserve operations. I’m really excited to get started, and hope to be meeting our existing rangers very soon to learn about their work and how I can improve their experience.
Please get in touch, I would love your feedback and to know who you are!
Expressions of interest are very welcome at this stage! Contact me.
I am excited to oversee our highly successful trainee programme, taking over our next cohort due to start in September. Trainees will gain many practical certificates and a huge amount of experience working predominantly with our reserves team. I will be ensuring their experience with us is positive and they leave us with a huge wealth of knowledge, experience, and confidence that will help them gain employment in this sector.
The roles will be advertised this summer, however expressions of interest are welcome and we can send you a notification when the role is released. Contact us for further details.
This is my first role in over a year following a career break volunteering and travelling in South America. Before my break, I was Project Manager with RSPB in Kent, working on making a woodland landscape more resilient to climate change through hydrology improvements (On a basic level, I had lots of volunteers and contractors acting like beavers!). I was also an assistant warden at RSPB for 3 years. Aside from travel, I also love birdwatching, any form of nature engagement and football. I am very new to the North East and really excited to explore all the amazing places you have up here!
For enquires about either role mentioned above please email me at rmerriman@durhamwt.co.uk
