March 22, 2024
Country: Ireland
Date: 14 - 27 July / 18-31 August 2024
Age: 18 and over
Description: Killarney National Park in Co. Kerry in the south west of Ireland is over 10,000 hectares in size and comprises mountains, lakes and woodland. The park is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It has an extensive range of trees, plants and wildlife. In the 19th century the rhododendron tree/bush (Rhododendron ponticum) was introduced and this has proved to be a highly invasive and destructive tree and has threatened to colonise large areas of the park. The rhododendron is threatening the bio diversity of the park and many native species of trees, shrubs, mosses are under threat.
Type of Work: Volunteers will work on natural methods of rhododendron control in remote mountain areas of the park such as dead-heading rhododendrons, stem treating of mature plants with small tools, the picking of seedlings and cutting of saplings using secateurs. The work may include using handheld tools such as loppers and hatchets, which you will receive full training on how to use safely on the 2nd day of the project. In addition, volunteers will help to construct dead hedges using dead rhododendrons, and in habitat conservation by pulling up seedlings, as well as assisting with visitor awareness in the National Park.
Apply for the 18 August Project
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Project fees: VSI is a small charity and we charge a fee (€55 - €155) to volunteer on our projects, this includes food, accommodation, insurance whilst on the project and VSI annual membership. More info here.
Please note, some of the descriptions mention an additional fee (of €50.00) when applying through non-SCI organisations. As VSI is an SCI branch there are no additional fees.
If you have any questions at all or would like more info on a project, please contact us at info@vsi.ie
This project is part of our International Volunteer Projects (IVP) programme, a unique form of values-based volunteering that brings together people from around the world to work on short-term projects with local communities. More info on our IVP programme here.