Volunteer with Scotland’s Gardens Scheme!


FEATURED ROLES

Smithycroft House

District Organiser, Edinburgh

We’re seeking a new District Organiser to take over from our current Joint Organisers who will retire at the end of 2026. Can you help?  If you’d like to find out more, fill in the volunteer enquiry form for further details.

Tatyana Aplin owner and her helper at Broomhill Villa teas

Volunteer Team, Glasgow

In Glasgow, we have an exciting new District Team developing in 2026 and are looking for new enthusiastic members of the team. Interested?  Please complete the volunteer enquiry form mentioning your interest in this.

Corbet Tower

District Organiser, Lanarkshire

We would love to welcome a new District Organiser to our Lanarkshire team, a district with loads of potential. Are you that person? If you think you are, please fill in the volunteer enquiry form for further details.


Why volunteer with us?

Volunteering with Scotland’s Gardens Scheme is a brilliant way to enjoy gardens, learn a lot and use your time well. At the heart of our charity are around a thousand volunteer organisers and garden owners, without whom there would be no gardens to visit. We are incredibly grateful for the skills and experience they bring to the charity and the time that they give to us and we want their experience with us to be inspiring, rewarding and fun.

If you would love to join in with us, please complete the simple form below and we’ll get back to you or call us for an informal chat on 0131 226 3714.

VOLUNTEER ENQUIRY FORM

  • Get involved in one of Scotland’s longest running volunteer networks

  • Meet new people and share your enthusiasm for gardens and gardening

  • Visit inspiring gardens, often not open to the public and a rare chance to see something special

  • Enjoy working as part of a team

  • Use your skills to help raise funds for charity

  • Join in our winter talks programme on zoom

  • Join us for our annual conference and regional meetings - usually in a garden!

  • Receive training to support you in your volunteer role.   


OTHER CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES

Ruthven House ©Malcolm Ross
 ©Malcolm Ross

District Treasurer, Berwickshire & Roxburghshire

If you enjoy managing the finances of a small organisation, making payments and using a brilliant database, this could be the role for you. Interested? Please complete the volunteer enquiry form and we will be in touch with you.

Kierfiold House

District Treasurer, Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney, Shetland

Arte you living in the highlands or northern isles, keen to give back to your community and have an eye for numbers? This role might be perfect for you. Please complete the volunteer enquiry form and we will get back to you.

Bluebell woods at Craigengillan Estate, Ayrshire ©Rob Davis
©Rob Davis

Other District Treasurer opportunities

We are always interested in hearing from potential District Treasurers, a role that can be undertaken remotely from its district. Please do complete the volunteer enquiry form if you are keen to take on such a role.


Our Volunteer Roles – many hands make light work!

We have 21 District Teams around Scotland who find gardens keen to open, then support those openings through the season, which can run from March through to October. Each District Team works in its own way but usually consists of some or all of the following roles and opportunities:

Camptoun House ©Delia Ridley-Thomas
©Delia Ridley-Thomas

District Organiser

The District Organiser leads the team and oversees garden openings through the season, making sure garden owners know what to expect from their open day and have the right support.

The Herbalist's Garden at Logie

Area Organisers

Area Organisers look after gardens in a particular area and help to recruit gardens, making sure they are supported on open days. They share the work of the District Organiser by supporting a specific area.

Barrmill Community Garden ©David Blatchford
Barrmill Community Garden ©David Blatchford

Admin & Database Volunteers

Database Volunteers help to put our garden openings onto our database, which then provides information for our annual guidebook, national leaflet and website, which details garden openings around Scotland.


Bowerhouse ©Delia Ridley-Thomas
©Delia Ridley-Thomas

District Treasurer

The District Treasurer makes sure that funds raised are paid to charities and to Head Office.  Treasurers enter information about openings into the finance part of our database so must be numerate and comfortable with technology. 

Broomhill Villa owner left and her friend

Event Volunteers

Event Volunteers help out before and during open days; they might deliver and put-up signage before and remove after an opening, sell tickets at the gate; direct traffic and manage parking; or help out with refreshments or to sell plants.

2018-garden-tour.jpg

Media & Photography Volunteers

Our Media & Photography group of volunteers play an important role in promoting garden openings in their area, through local PR and press releases, photography and social media. Head Office can provide templates and resources to help with this.


Current opportunities - could you help one of our Teams? 

SGS Head Office: Office volunteers at various times

Aberdeenshire: Event Volunteers

Angus & Dundee: Event Volunteers

Ayrshire: District Treasurer, Event Volunteers

Argyll: Area Organisers, especially for Lochaber area

Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney & Shetland: District Treasurer, Event Volunteers

Dumfriesshire: Area Organisers

Dunbartonshire: Area Organisers, Event Volunteers

East Lothian: Area Organisers

Edinburgh: District Organiser, Event Volunteers

Fife: Event Volunteers & Area Organisers

Glasgow: District Organiser, Area Organisers

Kirkcudbrightshire: District & Area Organisers 

Lanarkshire: District & Area Organisers, Event Volunteers

Moray & Nairn: Event Volunteers, Area Organisers

Peeblesshire & Tweeddale: Event Volunteers, Area Organisers

Perth & Kinross: Event Volunteers, Area Organisers

Renfrewshire: Area Organisers, Event Volunteers, Media Volunteer

Roxburghshire & Berwickshire:  District Treasurer, Area Organisers & Event Volunteers

Stirlingshire: Area Organisers & Event Volunteers

Wigtownshire: Area Organisers, Event Volunteers


Get in touch!

If you’d like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Fill in the form below and we’ll get back to you or call us for an informal chat on 0131 226 3714.

VOLUNTEER ENQUIRY FORM


Would you like to open your garden? Click below to find out more

Open your Garden