Volunteering with New Shoots

Gain practical experience by working alongside our skilled horticulturists

New Shoots piloted new volunteer roles at RHS Garden Wisley in 2023 and are now rolling these out at other gardens. They are designed to offer all individuals passionate about plants, nature and being outdoors the opportunity to learn about horticulture, and horticultural careers, to explore it further, regardless of experience or background.

Here's what you could experience

New Shoots Youth Horticultural Volunteers

New Shoots Youth Horticultural Volunteers

Green Skills Volunteer Programme

Green Skills Volunteer Programme

What you’ll do

Our Green Skills Volunteer Programme – is a once per month programme running for a year at a time. You will meet once a month at an RHS Garden on a Saturday. During the sessions you will learn a new skill, discover how this relates to a horticultural career and undertake volunteering work at an RHS Garden.

New Shoots Horticultural Volunteers – a flexible volunteering opportunity learning about, and undertaking practical horticultural tasks, around our RHS Gardens. These roles are not time-bound and give you the opportunity to take part for as long or as little amount of time as you are able to commit to.

Where could it lead
Whether volunteering helps you choose the subjects you study at school or college, gets you interested in further horticultural training we offer at the RHS, or inspires you to have a passion for plants and nature, our volunteer programmes could open your eyes to the type of career you are seeking and support you towards an exciting future ahead.
What you’ll need
Some of our programmes will be designed for specific age groups, for example youth programmes will start from age 14, whilst other programmes will be more tailored to adult audiences. We welcome anyone to apply for a relevant programme who has a passion for plants, nature and being outdoors – you do not need to have any prior horticultural knowledge or experience. However, please see role descriptions for guidance on the physical demands of the volunteer roles.

When a volunteering role within the above programmes becomes available these will be advertised on our volunteer recruitment pages along with a description of the role and who is eligible to apply.
What you’ll get

Our volunteers get travel expenses to support them getting to and from our RHS Gardens. They also receive uniform appropriate for all seasons.

You will gain practical and transferrable skills, such as teamwork, confidence and how to communicate effectively. You will also learn practical horticultural skills such as propagation, planting, garden maintenance, composting and so much more. It will also give you the opportunity to meet likeminded people and learn from experienced horticulturists what a career in horticulture can involve.

Next steps

Keep checking in for opportunities as we will regularly posting adverts and application links as roles become available at each garden. 

Please note: The work experience application portal is provided by Better Impact on behalf of RHS. When applying for work experience, you are leaving the RHS website, and will be governed by both the RHS and Better Impact’s privacy notices. Please read both privacy notices before you apply.

See the range of options on offer

Browse our programmes

Learn about the initiative to promote horticultural careers

What is New Shoots?

If you have a question on work experience, please see our Frequently Asked Questions section. 

FAQs

Contact us
For more information or if you have a question, please get in touch with the New Shoots team. 


E-mail:
[email protected]

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.