Parkland and Walled Garden Volunteer

Gardeners at Attingham get involved in all aspects of looking after our beautiful outside spaces, keeping them looking their best and making sure they are safe for visitors. The team is dedicated and innovative, coming up with ways to keep the garden exciting for visitors all year round! Our gardeners work across two main areas- the Walled Garden and the Parkland. These roles can be quite different; find out more about each area below. We’re looking for new volunteers to join us on a regular weekly basis. We also work together for some bigger tasks on our joint days throughout the year. By getting involved, you could… • Gain or improve your garden and maintenance skills • Get ideas for your own garden or allotment • Share your skills with people from all walks of life • Be part of creating beautiful spaces for visitors to enjoy • Be part of a big and exciting team • Spend more time in the great outdoors

What’s involved? Walled Garden: • You will be working in a team to get the walled garden looking it’s best in every season. A willingness to work in all weathers is a must! • You will get involved in weeding, pruning & harvesting fruit & veg • You will be helping with planting and sowing seeds • You will carry out work in our beautiful historic glass houses • There will be some opportunities for mowing, edging & box hedging cutting – all equipment for these tasks will be provided and full training will be given. • You will look after our fruit trees within the garden and in the 3-acre orchard • There might occasionally be some other activities that are of interest to you, that we could use your help with, for example getting involved with events and joint volunteering days in the parkland

About Attingham Park

Attingham Park is an 18th‑century estate near Atcham, Shropshire, featuring a Regency‑era mansion set within around 200 acres of landscaped parkland. The wider estate extends to approximately 4,000 acres, including rivers, woodland, walled gardens, an orchard, a deer park and pleasure grounds. The site includes a visitor centre, stable courtyard, bookshop, café, gardens, walks and historical exhibits, offering a full experience of heritage, nature and conservation.

What skills do I need?

Parkland: • Our Parkland volunteers are a hardy bunch, working in all weathers to keep the Mile Walk looking great and ensuring it’s a safe place for our visitors. • You will be doing anything from chopping, pruning and weeding, to burning! • Parkland volunteers also take care of our paths, signs and fences around the mile walk. • Leaf pick up – especially in the Autumn and Winter months – these are then left for a year and used as a mulch in the walled garden. • Opportunities for mowing grass using a push mower and using a backpack leaf blower – training provided • Tree/woodland work- cutting up fallen branches etc. • You are important in making sure our work runs as smoothly and safely as possible • There might occasionally be some other activities that are of interest to you, that we could use your help with, for example getting involved with events and joint volunteering days in the walled garden. This role will suit you if you are … A keen gardener, or want to be! If you love being outside and getting your hands dirty this is the role for you. A good level of physical fitness is required due to the nature of the work, as you will be bending, lifting, carrying and doing repeat tasks. Extra Information • We’ll help you get to know Attingham how you can help and how you will work with the rest of the team – with induction and training • We provide equipment to help you do this role well and safely, however you will need your own sturdy shoes (steel toed if possible) and suitable outdoor clothing. • We’ll also cover agreed costs of your travel between home and Attingham.

When do I need to be available?

Where does this role take place?