Grounds & Gardens Volunteer - Broomfield Hospital

Grounds and garden volunteering at Broomfield Hospital is an exciting and unique opportunity to assist in managing green and natural areas to provide an enhanced environment for patients, visitor and staff to enjoy.

There are two areas of natural woodland on site. Pudding Wood dates back to the 16th Century with Long Shapely Belt a narrow tongue of woodland on the southern hospital boundary that additionally adds an important landscape barrier between the hospital and open country immediately opposite. Alongside these woodlands, the site has completed various garden projects (Dementia Garden, Vegetable Garden & Tree Orchard, Kirsty’s Elm & Friends initiative) and green spaces with all locations sensitively managed for environmental and social benefits. 

Volunteers are needed to assist in seasonal gardening tasks within the hospital site; woodlands & gardens/green spaces.

Volunteers will work in supervised groups led by the Grounds & Gardens Manager, with support from other teams. Some tasks may be physically demanding and require a level of manual dexterity.

Responsibilities include:

• Garden maintenance – including weeding, digging, pruning, dead heading, bed preparation, tidying and path maintenance. Preparation, pruning and seasonal planting of decorative borders.
• Seasonal propagation and growing on – including seed sowing, cuttings, potting up. • Bed renovation and grounds development - reinstating and installing beds, ground preparation, planting, bulb planting.
• Clearing overgrown areas – keeping on top of areas and other invasive species. • Woodland management – planting, coppicing and grubbing out. Path maintenance.
• Meadow management – re-sowing, cutting down and raking.
• While support and training will be provided, from time to time volunteers may work independently or without one to one supervision

For volunteers spending 5 hours or more during one day, £5 can be provided for lunch (through Patient Experience Volunteers).

Parking/transport concessions are also provided.

What skills do I need?

All levels of gardening experience are accepted, but enthusiasm for outside practical gardening work is essential.

Flexible –willing to give support where necessary and be able to change plans at short notice to adapt to changing priorities.

Approachable – have positive attitude where staff and management feel at ease to approach and discuss in a constructive manner. • Ability to listen and follow instructions.

Ability to work safely and to not endanger yourself or others, using common sense to maintain a safe working environment.

Able to work in a team with people of wide ranging ages and abilities.

Awareness of the hospital site and the patients, visitors and staff accessing the site at all hours, and embracing a professional manner.

A passion to be outdoors and enthusiasm for the support you’ll be providing us

Interests

• Environment
• Health and Social Care
• Wildlife and Animals

Activities

• Gardening
• General Helping
• Practical Skills