Garden Maintenance Volunteer

Volunteer sessions take place on:

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm

This volunteer position would be ideal for anyone looking to get involved in a community project, reconnect with the natural world or learn about horticulture, botany and ecology.

This opportunity would also be an ideal first step to entering a new career in the horticulture industry.

Background:

Castlebank Horticultural Centre sits within the historic Castlebank Park, on the banks of the Clyde in Lanark. We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to help with general garden maintenance within the park and gardens.

No previous gardening experience is required! The only essential criterion is plenty of enthusiasm. Castlebank volunteers are supported by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers.

Together we propagate and grow a wide range of heirloom vegetables, herbs, rare edible plants, herbaceous perennials, alpines, succulents, trees and shrubs for education and the restoration of historic Castlebank Park.

Objectives:

Work with our Educational Gardener Walter and fellow volunteers to maintain and develop the historic Castlebank Park terraced gardens, bog garden, education gardens and vegetable beds.

Specific tasks and duties:

Maintaining herbaceous borders, shrubberies and vegetable beds by weeding, watering, feeding etc.
Helping to propagate plants from seed, cuttings and division.
Growing fruit and vegetables for education, sale and the Clydesdale food bank.

Benefits:

Meet and work with a social, friendly team with an opportunity to connect with both the Castlebank community and like-minded people
Working outdoors with positive consequences for physical and mental health
Access to excess plant stock that we cannot sell to take home and plant in your garden
Attend horticultural and environmental workshops at Castlebank as part of ongoing training
Gain horticultural/industry experience
Industry placement reference

Training:

Induction and training happen on-the-job
Horticultural workshops are available to long-term volunteers as professional development at a significantly reduced cost

Times/Days:

Tuesdays 9:30am – 3:00pm
Thursday 9:30am – 3:00pm

Commitment required:

Ideally, we ask that volunteers commit to a full day (from 9:30am-3.00pm) for a minimum of one day per week. (please contact us if you are interested in the role, but cannot commit to these hours)
Should you wish to discontinue your volunteer role with us we ask that you notify us by phone or email.

Skills/experience/ personal qualities required:

An enthusiastic passion for being part of the Castlebank Horticultural Centre Community
Good knowledge of roses, their care and propagation
Reliability. It is important that you turn up for your shift and communicate (as agreed with Educational Gardener) if you can’t make it.
Ability to understand and carry out verbal instructions.
Be able to work both independently and as a part of a team.
Positive attitude and good work ethic.
Be respectful, polite and courteous to fellow volunteers.
A commitment to employ safe work practices as guided by your supervisor is mandatory.