We are seeking to appoint a community growing development worker (part-time, fixed term contract January-March 2025) to lead the new ‘Joining the Dots for Nature’ project.
This project will help improve the soils and natural habitats of community growing schemes in or near the Cornwall National Landscape (formerly Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – AONB).
It is funded by DEFRA through the Farming in Protected Landscapes’ (FiPL) programme managed by the Cornwall National Landscape team.
The project grant will pay for six habitat surveys, 15 soil surveys and a range of ‘habitat interventions’ that support nature recovery on community growing plots. It will also cover the cost of the temporary part-time development worker who will manage the Joining the Dots for Nature project and support our community growing network.
Soil Symbiosis is leading on the soil surveys, using Dr Elaine Ingham’s methods to help growers improve their soil microbiology, and working with the new Eden Project ecology lab on chemical and carbon analysis. Cornwall Environment Consultants, working with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust farm advice team, will conduct the habitat surveys.
As the project develops it will enable growers to get expert advice on integrated pest management, soil and habitat improvement and to share their learning with other growers, their own volunteers and their local communities.
You can download the development worker job description below, with details of how to apply for the role. We suggest you also download our 2023 Community Growing in Cornwall report, published in conjunction with the University of Exeter’s Environment and Sustainability Institute.
The deadline for completed applications is 6pm Sunday 5 January 2025 and interviews will take place on Wednesday 8 January 2025.
Joining the Dots for Nature has been developed from some of the work carried out during the first phase of the FiPL-funded ‘Joining the Dots’ project led by the Organic Research Centre earlier this year.