Volunteers are an important and valued part of the National Botanic Garden of Wales
As one of the most visited Gardens in the UK, we are noted for our friendly atmosphere and approach to our visitors. We value and very much appreciate our volunteers and regard them amongst our important ambassadors, whether on-site or wherever they go in the world, contributing to developing and promoting our reputation.
Why we support and need Volunteers
The Garden recognises that the activities of volunteers are an important positive force in raising the organisation’s profile and support in the community. Volunteers are a vital part of the Garden’s lifeblood and are amongst its ambassadors. Volunteers are able to bring special extra skills, experience, and dimensions to benefit the Garden. They also help link the Garden closely with the wider community – the community of place and the community of people. Engaging a wide diversity of perspectives and approaches is widely acknowledged as bringing added value to organisations.
As with a lot of charities in the UK, the Garden’s resources are limited. Therefore, to enable the Garden to meet its objectives it has developed and maintains an essential, balanced, effective, and mutually beneficial staff/volunteer partnership. This is based on the principle that Garden staff provide the structure, organisation, direction and day-to-day management, whilst volunteers add value to the Garden’s work by performing a wide range of roles, contributing their time, flexibility, experience and specialist skills. Thus within this framework, volunteering is a legitimate and crucial activity which is supported and encouraged by the Garden.
Volunteering Opportunities
The Botanic Garden has the following volunteer placements available. If you are interested in any of the placements advertised*, please email: VolunteerCoordinator@gardenofwales.org.uk
Visitor Service Department – Meet & Greet
The Role
To welcome visitors to the Garden at the main visitor entrance and answer any questions that visitors may have with regard to events, facilities etc…
Days and Times
Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at the email above for more information on current opportunities and availability.
Experience
Good interpersonal skills, smart appearance, must enjoy meeting/conversing with the public. Knowledge of the Garden and its history would be advantageous but full training provided. The ability to converse in Welsh would be most advantageous but not essential.
Visitor Services Department – Buggy Driving
The Role
Buggy Drivers provide an essential service to our less able visitors by providing transport to various sites around the Garden and Historic Regency Landscape. Act as Ambassadors for the Garden and to transport our less able visitors around the Garden and heritage landscape, plus collecting and delivering items between departments etc.
Days and Times
Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at the email above for more information on current opportunities and availability.
Experience
Good interpersonal skills, smart appearance, must enjoy meeting/conversing with the public and have a clean driving licence.
Knowledge of the Garden and its history would be advantageous but full training will be provided and buggy driving test to be undertaken.
Please note that as a buggy driver you will be expected to lift folding prams and manual wheelchairs on and off the buggies and clean the buggy at the end of the day.
The ability to converse in Welsh would be most advantageous but not essential.
Second hand Bookshop
The Role
Our bookshop volunteers provide an essential service for our second-hand bookshop, raising funds for the Garden and carrying out the following activities:
Re-stocking bookshop shelves, tidying/pricing books, making sure that prices on shelves are displayed and that books on display are individually priced.
Re-stocking DVDs, CDs and Jigsaws
Sorting donations: cleaning books, DVDs and CDs, allocating books to correct book category in storage, checking DVDs and CDs etc.
Dealing with book enquiries from public.
Days and Times
Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at the email above for more information on current opportunities and availability.
Experience
Good interpersonal skills, smart appearance, must enjoy meeting/conversing with the public, some knowledge of The Garden required and love of books essential, full training provided.
The ability to converse in Welsh would be most advantageous but not essential.
Regency Landscape – Rangers
The Role
We are looking for Rangers to patrol our restored Historic Regency Landscape consisting of lakes, waterfalls, bridges and numerous meandering paths and ensure that our visitors are safe and enjoy their visit.
Rangers currently patrol the landscape in 2 hour shifts. Providing a visible presence and reporting any issues via radio to duty manager.
Days and times
Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at the email above for more information on current opportunities and availability.
Experience
Good interpersonal skills, smart appearance, must enjoy walking, meeting and conversing with the public. Knowledge of the Garden and its History is advantageous but full training will be given.
The ability to converse in Welsh would be most advantageous but not essential.
*Volunteer placements are open to UK residents only.
Regency Landscape – Tour Guides
We are looking for Tour Guides to provide guided tours to visitors of our restored Historic Listed Regency Parkland with its meandering paths, waterfalls, cascades and bridges.
Days and times
Tours are carried out on a weekly basis in the summer months from June to September and once a month from October to May.
Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at the email above for more information on current opportunities and availability.
Tour guides may be requested to give tours on other occasions to groups and specialist organisations.
Experience
Good interpersonal skills, smart appearance, must enjoy long walks – tours are approximately 2 hours on average – must have clear speaking voice, enjoy imparting information to the public and have a good knowledge of the Garden, its History and the Restoration of the Regency Landscape but not essential.
Full training will be provided.
The ability to converse in Welsh would be most advantageous but not essential.