If you would you like to do something for charity with your spare time and make new friends, there are many opportunities for volunteers at Hill Close Gardens.
We need people with a wide range of interests and professional skills to become involved, whether your desire is to help in the gardens, propagating plants, looking after visitors or contributing towards the management and fund raising in a variety of ways.
We are currently keen to hear from people with some educational experience to join the Children & Families team and someone with an interest in the social history of Warwick to train as a tour guide.
If you have a few hours a month or more to spare, please get in touch to discuss the many alternatives we can offer, indoors or out, with the public or in the back office, weekdays or weekends. The main volunteering options are outlined below.
Those of us who volunteer at Hill Close Gardens do so because it is an enchanted place:
“There is always a friendly atmosphere and we have the satisfaction of contributing to preserving the gardens.”
“I like being part of a team that’s doing something worthwhile for the future of Warwick.”
“We choose work within our capability and stop for refreshments when we want to.”
“I love to see the excitement of children as they discover the gardens.”
Tea Room volunteers
Our Tearoom volunteers serve hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks to visitors, mainly at weekends, under the guidance of the part-time Tearoom supervisor. They sign up to a rota when they are available to help.
Gardens volunteers
Volunteers help maintain and develop the gardens under the direction of the Head Gardener. Most of the gardening is done on weekdays, with volunteers choosing to come when they can.
Plant nursery volunteers
We are looking for green-fingered and experienced people to propagate, pot up and care for plants for the gardens and for sale, mainly on weekdays.
Plant Sales volunteers
Can you share a passion for plants with our visitors and customers? If you have some free weekend days or bank holidays from March to October, our plant nursery would appreciate your help. Volunteers sign up to a rota when they are available.
Children and Families volunteers
Hill Close Gardens hosts many children’s events and school visits, as well as some adult education. This programme of activities is planned and delivered by volunteers. Some educational experience is preferred.
Events volunteers
Hill Close Garden’s future rests on attracting visitors, during normal opening and for the special events held in the gardens. If you can help with marketing, publicity, maintaining the website or design, or organising the events themselves, we are keen to hear from you.
Administration volunteers
Like any organisation, there are many essential tasks going on behind the scenes, including book-keeping, archiving and photo librarian, for which we rely on the help of volunteers. Please get in touch to discuss where you may help or for some general information.
Tour Guides
Our volunteer tour guides take booked groups of visitors around the gardens, sharing their interest in horticulture and the social history of Hill Close Gardens. If you are interested in helping with this, please contact the centre manager for more information.
If you would like any further information please use the contact page, and if you wish to apply now please complete this form.