Volunteer Stories
John – Guide Team Leader
“The beauty of being a volunteer is that you can keep the administration to a minimum and the pleasure to a maximum. You can do as much or as little as you like”’ says John, who is Team Leader for the volunteer guides at Westonbirt.
John received membership to the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum as a retirement gift and his interest in the Arboretum started to grow from that day on. He now heads a team of 20 volunteer Guides.
“I’ve learned a lot and I really enjoy enhancing people’s experience of Westonbirt.” John says he was attracted by the quality of the people and the strength of the partnership between the Forestry Commission and the Friends of Westonbirt. “‘I don’t volunteer because I need my time filling, I do it because I enjoy it – Westonbirt is a really uplifting place to be.”
Cathy – Working Party
Cathy has been a volunteer for the last 18 months. “I went on a visit to Westonbirt with my brother and just by chance I picked up a leaflet about volunteering” said Cathy.
“It is very varied work - it is in tune with the seasons, that’s the beauty of it. There is coppicing and clearing undergrowth. Then there is planting and widening the rides, or building cages to protect young trees. This week we were working around the pond, removing invasive plants and leaving wildflowers which attract insects.”
“It is surprising how much work you can do in a day with 12 to 16 like minded people. I have made some good friends. There is a wide range of ages and background among the volunteers, all sharing an interest in nature and wildlife. Some come from a long distance – Westonbirt is such a special place.”
Sue – Education Centre
On a visit to Westonbirt with her daughter and granddaughter, sitting in the Education Centre on a family event, Sue was overheard saying, “This looks fun” and was duly press-ganged into joining the volunteers.
Her ties with Westonbirt are strong as her daughter was married here, she has adopted a tree in memory of her husband and often walks with her son in Silk Wood. Sue volunteers about one day a week.
“I just love being here, whatever time of year. There’s always something to see. The volunteering is so varied and there’s a very nice atmosphere amongst staff and helpers. Above all, it’s just great fun!”
“We are given responsibility and can use our initiative so we feel we are contributing individual skills and aren’t just seen as a pair of hands.”
Why not visit our volunteer vacancy page and see if there is anything you would like to be a part of.