Volunteer with us
Our volunteers are part of everything we do..
By volunteering at Helmsley Walled Garden you will be part of a vibrant team maintaining, developing and caring for this wonderful space. There are lots of interesting opportunities for our volunteers and they are essential to the running of our organisation. We welcome volunteers from any background and you don’t have to be an expert gardener to join us – we work with all abilities – all you need to bring is your enthusiasm and a love of the outdoors.
Volunteering opportunities
- Kiosk and shop volunteers – our kiosk and shop are managed by volunteers. There are ten sessions available each week, split into morning or afternoon slots. You do not need to commit to a specific day. A friendly face for our visitors, kiosk volunteers get the opportunity to chat and welcome everyone to the garden.
- Garden volunteers – every week we have a range of interesting and varied tasks for our garden volunteers, changing with the season and running right through the winter months. Garden volunteers tend to commit to a specific day each week.
- Garden mentors – part of our garden volunteering group, our garden mentors support other volunteers to enable everyone to gain benefit equally from their involvement with Helmsley Walled Garden.
- Maintenance volunteers – occasionally persuaded into heftier garden tasks, our maintenance volunteers are currently working on our cold frame restoration project.
From time to time we have other opportunities arise for specific projects. Please contact us if you are interested in joining us as a volunteer and Heather, our volunteer coordinator, will arrange an informal meeting to give you more information.
Our volunteer Stories
Sarah’s story
Volunteering at Helmsley Walled Garden was something that I had wanted to do for several years. This worked out last year and I started volunteering in January 2020. It is such a beautiful place and concept - the prospect of being part of a team and being involved in something bigger than our own garden and home responsibilities was very appealing.
The experience has been wholly positive and the benefits are disproportionate to the amount of time that I have been able to spend there actually gardening. I think that it has given me a shift in outlook and increased my confidence in different ways.
Sarah, garden volunteer
Sues’s story
'Helmsley Walled Garden has given me the opportunity to get involved with a community of like minded folk, which I haven't felt able to do for years and I'm 'chuffed to bits'!!'
Sue, garden volunteer
Andrew’s story
Andrew came to the Walled Garden from Welburn School in 2012. He has always loved gardening, has his own greenhouse (an 18th birthday present), and works as a self employed gardener in his village. He studied horticulture at Askham Bryan College and uses his knowledge working all over the garden, although his favourite spots are the Hot Border and our Wildlife Garden.
Andrew has met lots of new friends at the garden and also loves to visit the Vine House Café when he's here. When he's not helping out at the garden, Andrew enjoys reading and walking his dog Ralph. Andrew's family are frequent visitors to the garden and enjoy seeing what he's been up to!
Lynda’s Story
Lynda has worked with adults with learning difficulties for many years and has seen at first hand the benefits of being in the fresh air and working in a team for people of all abilities.
Moving to the area four years ago, she has enjoyed volunteering, learning new skills and working alongside others. She particularly enjoys that fact that nobody is labelled or segregated at Helmsley - we all work together on group projects and everyone can experience gardening at all levels.
Lynda particularly enjoys working alongside volunteers who need a little support and encouragement and the fact that the garden is a safe, non-threatening space for all to enjoy.
