A unique opportunity exists for nature enthusiasts to live and work on Noss, a remote Scottish island serving as a nature reserve. Responsibilities include monitoring seabirds, operating a ferry, and welcoming visitors. The off-grid accommodation provides a truly secluded experience.
Scots city-slickers or those seeking tranquility may yearn for a more secluded life. Social media, burgeoning urban populations, and the ever-present stresses of daily life might fuel dreams of escaping the digital world or simply rejecting the status quo for a simpler existence. For those individuals, there's a compelling opportunity to monitor wildlife on an off-grid Scottish island paradise, offering a salary of £32,000.
NatureScot, the nature agency of the Scottish Government, is actively recruiting a seasonal officer for Noss, a small, formerly inhabited island within the Shetland Isles. The entire island functions as a nature reserve and boasts an internationally significant seabird colony, encompassing gannets, razorbills, puffins, and guillemots. Notably, the location is renowned for its population of great skua, a globally rare bird species known as 'bonxies' in Shetland. This term derives from an old Norse word meaning 'dumpy', likely referring to the bird's robust build. With 400 pairs residing on Noss, it ranks as the fifth largest colony of its kind worldwide, according to NatureScot.The role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities. You will be tasked with monitoring the seabird populations, operating a small inflatable ferry connecting the island to the mainland, and welcoming visitors to the reserve. Accommodation for the seasonal role, which spans from April to the end of September, is provided on the island and will be shared with another reserve officer. The accommodation, while basic, is described as comfortable and entirely off-grid by Juan Brown, NatureScot reserve manager and former seasonal officer on Noss. He told The Scotsman, 'When I did that job, I absolutely loved it. You are completely off-grid, so there's no mains water or electricity. But there are solar panels and a wind turbine, which you can use for charging things like laptops and phones. It's also gas cooking and gas refrigeration. So it is basic, but perfectly comfortable.' For essential supplies, a short ferry ride from Noss to the neighboring island of Bressay, followed by a half-hour drive and another short ferry ride to Lerwick, the main town on Shetland, will provide access to food stores.The job may appear complex, but it requires three key skills. Firstly, strong interpersonal skills for interacting with visitors; secondly, prior experience in bird monitoring, preferably with seabirds; and lastly, proficiency in boat handling. Practical experience would be advantageous for handling any temporary repairs on the island. Beyond that, if you have a passion for nature and can adapt to living in isolation, this opportunity might be perfect for you. 'It's a lovely island,' Brown asserts. 'There are beautiful beaches with that turquoise water, but also the 180m cliffs, which are the highlight of the island and host the gannet population. 'The puffins on the island are really tame as well and they're always a favourite,' Brown adds. 'When visitors to the island leave, you end up having this paradise island to yourself.' The position offers a salary of £32,000. Applications must be submitted to NatureScot by midnight on February 3.
Naturescot Noss Island Shetland Isles Seabird Monitoring Off-Grid Living Seasonal Job
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