Productive Gardens LTV

Introduction

With over 35 years experience, CAT is dedicated to informing, inspiring and enabling in the field of sustainability through a diverse range of activities. The Centre offers information and education and has a visitor and conference centre. We attract around 60,000 people a year and employ more than 100 dedicated and creative staff.

Based in beautiful mid-Wales, the Centre overlooks the Snowdonia National park, renowned for its stunning scenery and outdoor activities. Within easy reach of the local beaches and University town of Aberystwyth, Machynlleth has a vibrant local community, has a lively arts and music scene and is a great place for families.

About the LTV Scheme

Volunteers are extremely important to the work at CAT and the achievements over the last 30 years simply wouldn't have happened without the hard work, inspiration and dedication of the initial idealists who founded the centre in 1975.

Long Term Volunteers (LTV’s) come every March and September to work full time for 6 months in various departments across CAT.  Whilst gaining hands-on valuable work experience and learning more about sustainability during their unpaid placement, individuals make a valuable contribution to the work of CAT which is highly appreciated.

LTV’s find accommodation locally and need to be completely self funding.  Anyone is welcome to apply but you must be over 18 years old. 

Interested individuals should consider the different roles and apply for these unpaid placements by filling in our application form or alternatively sending a CV and a thorough covering letter explaining your motivation for volunteering, why you would be suitable for the role and any information that could be useful in your application.  Please clearly state which role you are applying for.  You are welcome to apply for more than one position but please indicate this in your application and explain, for each role, why you would like to do this role. 

Please see www.cat.org.uk/jobs for details of each of the roles and www.cat.org.uk/volunteers for more information about the LTV scheme.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us, 01654 705955, vacancy@cat.org.uk  

About the Productive Gardens department

The Productive Gardens at CAT provide fresh, organic fruit and vegetables for the staff lunches and to supply our visitor restaurant and café in town, as well as being a showcase of sustainable food production and biodiversity for visitors.  The 1 acre productive food field has been managed since the establishment of CAT.  Alongside this main growing area, there are productive food areas across site including a hobby allotment, polytunnels, an orchid and woodland areas.  The department works on composting, including food waste composting, woodland management and weather monitoring.

About the job

You will be primarily working on food growing at CAT, onsite as well as primarily on the 1 acre productive food field, in liaison with the Productive Gardens Manager and other volunteers.  Full training and supervision will be given.  Tasks vary seasonally.

Responsibilites

Tasks may include the following.

• All the various tasks involved in growing food at CAT.
• To help carry out all aspects of organic gardening in CAT’s 1 acre field, including planting, watering, weeding and harvesting.
• To help maintain ongoing research projects and establish new ones as required (with Biology Dept.).
• To help with the upkeep of designated fences, hedges and trees.
• To maintain garden tools and keep shed to required standards.
• To help maintain and improve biodiversity and wildlife at the Centre.
• To collect compost as required from designated local areas (i.e. Quarry Café); for composting waste on site and maintaining garden soil using compost produced.
• To carry out composting in liaison with the Biology Dept, ensuring compliance with CAT procedures.
• Other tasks as required. 

Person Specification

• Flexible with an enthusiastic and positive disposition
• Capacity to work in a team and on own intiative
• Empathy with the ethos and core values of the organisation
• Keen and willing to learn
• Able to work outside in all weathers
• Able to do heavy physical work

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