On being a Garden Volunteer        

I started my work as a Garden Volunteer at Wimpole Hall (National Trust) in Cambridgeshire where there was a group of about 30 or so volunteers. I was there from 1999-2004 when I moved to Scotland and soon started to do garden work for the Scottish National Trust at Falkland Palace a couple of miles away from my home.

I find this a very good way to enlarge my gardening knowledge, as well as to work on a much larger and grander scale than my own plot! It is varied work, thought I have to admit that trimming edges does start to pall after a few hundred yards! (The parterre at Wimpole seemed to have endless edges - thank goodness there is not one at Falkland.) There are also a great many plants one might not have at home (too big, wrong situation etc) but it is always interesting to me to learn more about them. The visitors will certainly ask you what this or that is - and one French visitor wanted a long discourse on how to keep such nice lawns! I find visitors add to the pleasure generally - especially perhaps the art groups who come and paint all day. It is not necessary to work long hours. Having been used to Wimpole where the majority of us worked either a morning or an afternoon each week that seems to be acceptable here also. The main thing is to be as reliable as possible. One is not asked to use power tools which need special training. It is more helpful to be able to recognise a weed when you see one!

As I get older, it is nice to be able to do some extra gardening as long as I am able. if it were my own garden, I should have to then pay for the help! Do consider coming to volunteer.

Heather Dean