Volunteering at Hare Hill

Garden staff and volunteers at Stowe, Buckinghamshire in July — Garden staff and volunteers in the garden at Stowe in July | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Volunteering at Hare Hill is a great way to get to know the secrets of the place, learn new skills and meet new people. Kate Foster shares her experiences of volunteering through the seasons.

Kate's story

‘I'd cut down my hours at work and found I had some free time, so decided to fulfil a dream of doing volunteer work in the outdoors,’ says Kate.

‘My son volunteers at Alderley Edge as a ranger and he’s always been very enthusiastic about it, so as Hare Hill is not far for me I thought I’d ask about working in the garden. I’ve been there for a year now, and it’s extremely enjoyable.'

Learning new skills

‘I’ve learned a lot about gardening – I actually like weeding! It’s lovely to see such a beautiful place change through the seasons, week by week, and to be part of the team that’s keeping it looking its best.'

Lots of variety

‘Sometimes we have mornings or afternoons in the greenhouse. I like sowing seeds and growing plants. It’s good to tackle a task, finish it, then look back and see a real difference.

I enjoy everything about working at Hare Hill. I’m not so good at digging and heavy work, but I don’t like to be inactive and I'll have a go at anything that needs doing.’

Wheelbarrows leaning against the garden wall at Hare Hill, Cheshire | © National Trust Images/David Levenson

Falling in love with Hare Hill

‘I also volunteer at Lyme Park once a week: patrolling the park or helping in the garden. It's a much larger place and I enjoy it in a different way.

Hare Hill is more intimate. I find volunteering makes you very loyal to a property – you kind of fall in love with a place when you volunteer there, and that’s a very positive thing for me. I really enjoy the company too!’

Become a volunteer at Hare Hill

If you’ve been inspired by Kate’s story and would like to find out more about volunteering with us, you can search for current opportunities via the link below.

We look forward to hearing from you.