Volunteering with the RHS – be part of the passion
At the RHS we are passionate about helping as many people as possible to discover the joys and benefits of gardening. In fact, last year:
- 10,000 people from over 1,000 UK communities took part in RHS Britain in Bloom
- Over 5,000 schools and over 400,000 school children benefited from our free schools activities
- More than a million people visited the four RHS gardens
- Over 700,000 people attended RHS Flower Shows throughout the UK
- RHS advisors answered over 60,000 individual gardening enquiries
And it doesn’t stop there. The RHS is committed to reaching out and bringing gardening into the lives of even more people and the support of our volunteers is invaluable in helping us to pursue this goal.
So if you would like to be part of the team of over 1000 volunteers who already give their time, energy and knowledge to help support the RHS, we would love to hear from you.
What kind of people volunteer?
Our volunteers have as diverse characters, backgrounds and abilities as the variety of roles we have on offer.
However, what our volunteers do have in common is a keen interest in – and often a wealth of knowledge about – gardens and gardening and a belief in the charitable aims of the RHS. We don’t require any special skills or knowledge from our volunteers, as every volunteer receives training and guidance.
Volunteers are ideally asked to commit on a regular basis, usually one day per week or fortnight depending on the activity and the time of the year. In return for their help they are offered an allowance towards their travel and food costs, as well as a complimentary ticket to RHS gardens and shows for regular helpers.
What kind of role could I do?
Our volunteers take on a wide variety of roles at locations throughout the UK, they can:
- Help to promote RHS membership at recruitment stands at RHS garden, RHS flower shows and regional shows and events throughout the UK.
- Assist at the four RHS gardens by helping with a range of tasks such as gardening, acting as garden tour guides and providing administrative support in the Library and Marketing departments.
- Assist the RHS with administrative support at its Head Office in London.
What will I get out of volunteering?
“Good fun, enjoyable and a feeling of worthwhile achievement when you’ve finished” RHS Volunteer
New experiences, challenges and role satisfaction are just some of the benefits you can get out of volunteering with the RHS.
You could also:
- Make new friends and meet people who enjoy gardening as much as you do
- Develop and learn new skills
- Give something back by supporting the UK’s leading gardening charity
- See the world’s best flower shows before the crowds
- Get out in the fresh air in beautiful surroundings
- Enjoy the seasonal changes in our gardens
- Broaden your horticultural knowledge
- Create something for future generations to enjoy
- Learn from the experts
I want to volunteer, how can I get involved?
If you would like to get involved we would love to hear from you.
If you would help promote RHS membership at RHS Shows, RHS gardens or in any other capacity, please write to: The National Recruitment Co-ordinator, RHS Marketing Department, 80 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PE
If you would like to help at RHS Gardens write to the Co-ordinator of Volunteers at the relevant garden:
RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate HG3 1QB
RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Westerns Approach, Rettendon CM3 8AT
RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH
RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB