Guide in the Hide Volunteer

At WWT London Wetland Centre we want to ensure that our visitors receive a warm, friendly welcome to ensure they have a memorable visit. As a Guide in a Hide primarily in our Headley Hide, you will be the point of contact in engaging visitors of all ages and backgrounds, using your good knowledge to point out birds and wildlife of key interest and providing identification tips.

You’ll need to be equally at ease interacting with groups of children and families as you are talking to adult birders and photographers, inspiring everyone to support us as members of the WWT. You’ll also let us know of any new sightings and help us by undertaking some basic tasks to keep the hides presentable for our visitors.

This role involves:

• Providing a warm welcome to all visitors who come to the hides.
• Helping visitors locate and observe birds of interest birds and learn how to bird-watch: showing how to use the scopes and binoculars, and how to look for and distinguish bird features.
• Attending briefing sessions and familiarising yourself with events, activities, sightings and developments at the centre so that you can provide up-to-date information to our visitors and promote forthcoming events and activities
• Recording notable sightings on the Hide sightings board (or encourage visitors do it as part of an interactive experience) and notify the Reserve team or Duty Manager where appropriate.
• Helping keep a tidy hide (basic housekeeping - sweeping, litter-picking, wipe sills/seats, dust rafters to remove cobwebs) and report any damages.
• Topping up bird feeders as needed in the Headley Hide.
• Seasonally, being in cold spaces for periods of time, for which we will provide warm uniform, including coats.

This role will suit you if:

You have a positive, friendly, warm and friendly manner, are a good communicator and are committed to delivering excellent customer service to a wide variety of visitors, especially our younger and first-time visitors. You’ll have a real interest in and enthusiasm for WWT’s work, nature and the outdoors and can share this with others of all ages. You’ll have a good knowledge of UK bird species and other wetland wildlife to answer visitor questions, and be confident at using bird watching optical equipment, assisting visitors in doing so. Having your own telescope and binoculars would be useful, but is not essential.

You’ll be happy to undertake some basic maintenance and cleaning tasks to help maintain our high standards across the site. While we are close-working team, the ability to work flexibly in a team of staff and volunteers, and under your own initiative is also needed.