Volunteering at Gatton

At Gatton we offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities for both individuals and groups. Our volunteers help out with all aspects of running the estate from practical working outside to helping out in the office. We are also very experienced in running corporate volunteering days for organisations. The volunteers at Gatton make it what it is, if you would like to get involved there are many different ways you can help out! Below are listed some of our current volunteer opportunities. Please do contact us for more details.

Garden restoration and maintenance

Since 1996, the garden restoration volunteers have brought back to life the rock and water garden, the Japanese garden and areas of parkland. These areas need continuing development and maintenance. You don’t have to be a gardener to help us but any experience would be useful

Parkland Management Assistant

 

Come and help the Park warden with the maintenance and development of the park. Work involves hands on woodland and grassland management, habitat creation and surveying

Kitchen Garden Volunteer

 

Get involved in a project to restore the areas of the walled kitchen gardens. The first part of this project aims to reinstate an area of kitchen garden for use by the children of the RAA School. This will involve laying out paths and beds in which we intend to grow a variety of different fruits, vegetables and herbs.

 

We also intend to establish an orchard to complement the small orchard that we already have. With this opportunity you have the option to either work on the gardens, in a small group, or alongside the teachers working with the children. It would be great if you have any food growing experience though this is not essential.

Animal Care Assistant

 

Help us with the management of the animals that we keep in the park. You will be working with our staff to help with the management of our chickens, pigs, goats and ornamental birds.

 

If you have a preference to work with one particular type of animal this can also be facilitated. No experience is required as training will be given, but if you do have experience it would be very useful.

Can you help the Education Team?

 

We need help on a wide range of tasks. These include:

- Helping with or leading groups of children on in- and outdoor studies and activities

 - Administrative help, such as computer work and promotional mailings

-  “Blue Peter” volunteers – cutting, sticking, colouring, laminating – to prepare for children’s activities

- Helping out at special events or with weekend activities

- Marketing or assisting with fundraising

We are happy for volunteers to come anytime during the week that fits in with your schedule. 

Park & Garden Volunteers

 

For more information call or email

Tel: 01737 649068
glynsherratt@gatton-park.org.uk

Education Volunteers

 

For more information call or email

Tel: 01737 649066
education@gatton-park.org.uk

Corporate and team building volunteering

We offer a wide range of opportunities for groups for community and team building days. Please contact us for more information on the opportunities which are available.

Available Projects for 2010

 

• Installing metal tree guards Fitting parkland tree guards to protect the next generation of trees in Park

 

• Footpath Construction Help us to reinstate on of the many paths around the estate

 

• Maths Maze maintenance Carry out maintenance to this much loved educational garden

 

• Planting up new garden features Preparing and planting up new shrub borders or bulb displays

 

• Pond maintenance Clearing weeds and habitat creation on our many ponds

 

• Coppicing & Coppice crafts - Cutting trees in our coppice, then make tools, seats etc from them

 

• Building outdoor classrooms - Constructing outdoor classroom spaces for our education programmes

 

• Bridge Construction - Building bridges to connect up one of our islands to footpath route

 

• Meadow management Hay cutting - Cutting and bringing in the hay from our wild flower meadows

 

• Scrub clearance Clearing shrubs and small trees that have encroached on the park

 

• Tree planting Help us to plant the next generation of trees for Gatton Park

Facilities

 

You will be working alongside our trained staff and volunteers who will guide you through every step of your task. We are also fully insured and will be able to provide you with full risk assessment for the task of your choice.

 

We offer a variety of different facilities to cater for you needs, from pack lunches and BBQs to full cooked meals. You can either be based out in the park or in Gatton Hall, both locations offer toilet and washroom facilities. We can also cater for groups with special requirements, please contact us for more details.

Some examples of previous projects

 

Deloitte’ s September 2009

 

On the 25th September we had 25 members of staff from Deloitte’s come to work in the park. They spent the day in serpentine woods improving access and the outdoor classroom facilities.

 

Serpentine woods is primarily used by the education team for bug hunting, so creepy crawlies were the theme of the day. The group spent the day building bug shelters for flying insects, deadwood stacks for ground dwelling bugs and log walls for spiders and beetles. All these features look great in the woods and really bring the area to life.

 

They also repaired the bridges, fixing the banisters and putting down wire so they can be used in the winter. We will be welcoming our first school to this new area later this month and you will be able to visit it next year on our open days.

Ordnance Survey May 2009

 

On The 15th May we had a group of 21 volunteers from Ordnance Survey come to work in the park. They undertook a number of tasks; installing tree guards to protect the oaks we planted last winter (the deer had already eaten one!), top dressing our paths with woodchip and clearing scrub to open up some of the views across the park.

 

They also built an outdoor classroom on cedar walk using timber and willow grown on the estate. The seats were constructed out of ash using traditional woodworking techniques and the willow was woven into panels. This area has already been getting plenty of use from schools. All the volunteers had a great day and hope to come back for another day.

 

Back to top >