Volunteer opportunities

Volunteers play a vital role in assisting us with our work.  Around 70 people volunteer with us regularly.  If you want to get involved, learn new skills and make new friends why not consider becoming part of our volunteer team?

The following gives  an idea of the kinds of roles that volunteers take on – but we are very flexible and volunteers are welcome to support us in any aspect of our work.

NEW Golf Buggy Drivers - help visitors with disabilities to explore the Gardens.  Any day.

Garden Volunteers  – meet on Tuesday mornings 9.30 – 12.30pm and assist the gardeners with tasks in the garden.

Parkland Volunteers – meet on Wednesdays 9.30am – 3.30pm and usually work on a variety of  conservation tasks in the parkland.

Parkland Rangers – Parkland Rangers undertake a vital role in patrolling the park to ensure public and wildlife safety (eg checking that dogs are under control) and also giving information and advice to the public.

House and Garden Guides – share your enthusiasm for history and the beautiful gardens.   If you enjoy talking to the public, this could be the role for you.

Fundraising Team - in November 2007, volunteers decided to expand their activities to include fundraising for restoration of the Estate’s Victorian Conservatory. Having brought in over £25,000 towards match funding in four years and with funding for the Conservatory secure, volunteers’ attention has turned to the Walled Kitchen Garden which is currently in a derelict state. Volunteers are bringing in valuable funds and have great fun in the process.

Helping out in the cafe / shop – our busy shop and cafe can often do with a hand on busy days.  This is a great role if you enjoy meeting visitors and helping them to get the best out of their day.

Supporting events – help is needed with everything from co-ordinating car parking, to dressing up as one of Santa’s Elves.

Assisting in the office – we always need help in the admin team – whether it is just picking up the phone, helping to maintain our website or cataloguing the Trust’s photographs and archive material.

If you think that you might like to join the volunteer team, please get in touch on our contact page by clicking here

For those of you who kindly bought a quiz sheet to support the Walled Kitchen Garden Restoration, here are the answers.

Name the Dogs

1. Boxer
2. Husky
3. Lurcher
4. Corgi
5. Spaniel
6. Jack Russell
7. Basset Hound
8. Bulldog
9. Poodles
10. Retriever
11. Border Collie
12. Whippe
13. St Bernard
14. Airedale
15. Red Setter
16. Bedlington
17. Beagle
18. Dandie Dinmont
19. Great Dane
20. Chow