Gardens Volunteer

About the Natural History Museum at Tring

The Natural History Museum Tring, Hertfordshire, was once the personal collection of Lionel Walter, the second Lord Rothschild. Upon Lord Rothschild's death in 1937, the Museum and his collections were presented to the Nation to become part of the Natural History Museum.

The Museum is a hidden gem, with over 4000 specimens on display, the NHM bird collection onsite and a historic building. Set in Tring, Hertfordshire, the Museum is a national museum on a local scale. We welcome 150,000 visitors a year and 8,000 school students. We aim to provide an inspiring and excellent experience for all visitors.

Diversity and inclusion matter to us.

Our vision is of a future where both people and the planet thrive. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment.

We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and feel valued and respected.

About the volunteer role

The Garden Volunteer Programme offers volunteers a meaningful opportunity to make an impact at NHM Tring, maintaining the gardens and grounds and supporting the wider team to deliver land management plans. This is a particular exciting time to join as a volunteer in Tring as we look to improve the gardens and grounds for visitors and wildlife.

Volunteers can support a range of practical activities throughout the year, including:

• Seed sowing, planting and weeding
• Tree and pond care
• Raking and composting
• Improving the site for biodiversity
• Wildlife recording
• Cutting and dead heading
• Helping to deliver the museum's landscape management plan

About you

We are looking for individuals who can commit to volunteering at least 1 -2 days a month. As a Gardens Volunteer you will be representing the Natural History Museum as you carry out your volunteer tasks. Garden volunteers need to be reliable, friendly, able to follow instructions and happy to refer Museum visitors to staff as necessary.

You will:

• Work well in a team
• Be willing to learn and undertake a range of outdoor tasks
• Be able to communicate with people from a broad range of backgrounds
• Attend the Museum to volunteer a minimum of 1-2 days per month

What can you gain from the role?

• Gain confidence and make new friends working as part of a team
• Gain transferable skills learnt in a world leading visitor attraction
• Learn and share practical skills in gardening and habitat management
• Access inspiring training opportunities and learn more about nature and science
• Be supported to be part of a team responsible for creating a unique garden which is open to all
• Benefit from spending time outdoors and within nature

Thriving at the Museum: the way we work

We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum's values and forms the framework for the way we work.

Find out more here

What we offer

• Out of pocket travel and lunch expenses up to £15 a week
• 20% discount in the Museum shops and cafes
• Training and support to be confident in the role
• Access to inspirational lectures, and special events in South Kensington and Tring, and social events with other volunteers
• Free entry to affiliated museums and galleries
• Training and support to be confident in the role
• Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across the UK.
• Staff discount at our Museum shops and cafe

Due to the nature of this role the work pattern will be 100% on site.

How to apply

If this sounds like you, please apply below by clicking on Apply for job.

Please note that as part of our commitment to anonymised shortlisting, panels do not view CVs during the recruitment process. If you choose to upload your CV, our system will automatically pull information from your CV into our application form. We advise you to double-check your application form data before submitting as the tool may interpret CVs differently.

Closing date: 23:59 on 18 October

Volunteer selection day: 4 November

If you require any further information or wish to discuss the voluntary role, then please contact us via tring-enquiries@nhm.ac.uk. We aim to respond within 48 hours.