Kew Gardens, a sprawling 300-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled in West London, offers an awe-inspiring backdrop for volunteers. From the iconic Palm House to the tranquil Waterlily House, those who signed up certainly revelled in the beauty of their surroundings on their volunteering day.
Volunteers were eager for the opportunity to work alongside Kew experts and gain hands-on experience, with abilities ranging from seasoned gardeners to those just discovering their green thumb.
The day commenced before the Kew gates opened to the public, with volunteers diving straight into the task of weeding wild garlic, some even gathering some for personal culinary adventures. As the day progressed, tasks shifted to carefully hoeing around trees,filling several trailers to the brim with weeds.
As the day drew to a close, a combination of exhaustion and satisfaction enveloped the volunteers, their hard work evident in the transformed landscape. Afterwards, some chose to stay and wander through the enchanting gardens, unwinding after a fulfilling day.
Beyond the gardening tasks, valuable lessons and skills were learnt, and many new friendships made among CSSC members.
Overall, it was a fantastic day out, reflected by the positive feedback from members shown below. A huge thank to Kew Gardens for this incredible opportunity.
With Volunteering Week on the horizon, CSSC members can expect more opportunities to lend a hand across the UK. Keep an eye out for upcoming events!
Be sure to explore the CSSC gardening community set up to share tips, progress and ideas among fellow gardening enthusiasts.
"I really enjoyed myself at Kew Gardens, thanks to everyone for making us so welcome and giving us the chance to help out.
It was a perfect choice of job for us all to get stuck into and move through as a team, thanks for this great opportunity, and yes I would love to come back another time for more volunteering when the opportunity arises.
Big thanks again for a fun day filled with sunshine, interest, and great sense of achievement." Simone
"The day was very therapeutic and I was pleased that the gardening element was not too advanced! It was a really relaxed environment and such a nice opportunity to meet other members of CSSC.
It was such a treat to be able to spend the day at Kew! It felt good to help out and do something in nature.
It's such a nice way to get away from the screen for a day and get into the outdoors, particularly in spring/summer!" Maddie
"The day was very therapeutic and I was pleased that the gardening element was not too advanced! It was a really relaxed environment and such a nice opportunity to meet other members of CSSC.
It was such a treat to be able to spend the day at Kew! It felt good to help out and do something in nature.
It's such a nice way to get away from the screen for a day and get into the outdoors, particularly in spring/summer!" Maddie
"I really enjoyed it, I thought it was a really nice atmosphere, everyone was very friendly and it was great to be involved in the work.
I would definitely recommend to anyone they give it a go if a similar opportunity comes up, it’s a great way of just getting out in the open and making a difference.
It’s also very good not just physically but mentally to be out helping." Vincent
"The Kew staff were all so friendly, and willing to share their own extensive knowledge and experience.
This helped us understand why the task was important, as well as gain a variety of tips and understanding that we can apply in our own gardens.
It was also great to have the opportunity to explore the gardens and glasshouses afterwards. The sunshine helped, of course!" Samantha
"The Kew staff were all so friendly, and willing to share their own extensive knowledge and experience.
This helped us understand why the task was important, as well as gain a variety of tips and understanding that we can apply in our own gardens.
It was also great to have the opportunity to explore the gardens and glasshouses afterwards. The sunshine helped, of course!" Samantha
"The event was great. Reception from Kew staff was warm and inclusive, and it was great to spend some time making the world a great place, in a different ways than what one does normally Monday to Friday. " Gian-Paolo
