Join Arkaig Community Forest growing native trees from seed to landscape, work with leading conservation partners, and help restore Lochaber’s ancient woodlands. Previous nursery experience is not essential as training and support will be provided throughout the internship, but you must be under thirty years old to apply*

Location: Arkaig Community Forest, Clunes,Spean Bridge, Highlands IV34 4EJ

Duration: September 2026 – April 2027 (8 months)

Hours: 3 days per week

Salary: Living Wage equivalent (£26,000 FTE)

Apply by: Applications before 5pm, Friday 21st August

Arkaig Community Forest is a community-led charity working to restore native woodland, protect wildlife, and support local people through hands-on conservation and learning. Our tree nursery grows local-provenance seedlings that help regenerate the Caledonian pinewoods and native rainforest around Loch Arkaig.

We are seeking a young highly motivated Native Tree Nursery Assistant intern. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside experienced staff, volunteers, and partner organisations, including Achnacarry Estate, Woodland Trust, Forestry and Land Scotland and Loch Abar Mor, all leading nature restoration bodies in Highlands. You will be part of a close-knit, vibrant, community-led rewilding team and will gain hands-on experience in every stage of native tree production—from seed collection and growing, to delivering trees for landscape-scale projects.

You'll develop skills and learn about:

● Native tree propagation and care

● Woodland ecology and restoration

● Conservation project delivery

● Community events and volunteer engagement

● Professional record keeping and certification systems

● Working with ecologists, foresters, conservationists, and local communities

Location:

● On site at Arkaig Community Forest Native Tree nursery

● In the field around Arkaig area

Training:

● You will be working closely with the tree nursery manager who will give expert training in tree care and nursery management

● You will have opportunities for specialist training and to visit other projects and nurseries

We’re looking for someone with:

● A genuine and deep commitment to nature conservation

● A willingness to learn and follow detailed verbal instructions, including Health and

Safety

● Ability to complete tasks unsupervised where necessary and leave tools as you

find them

● Excellent time keeping, as well as honest and accurate record keeping ability

● Awareness of handling plants with gentleness and care

● Good communication skills

● Full driving license would be useful

How to Apply:

Please send a covering letter and CV to treenursery@arkaig.org by 17:00 Friday 21st August 2026. 

*Arkaig Community Forest is an equal opportunities employer and has a Fair Work First Statement Declaration. This internship was generously funded by The Pebble Trust.