Volunteer with Scotland’s Gardens Scheme!
FEATURED ROLES
Area Organiser, Berwickshire
We are seeking an Area Organiser for the Berwickshire area of our Berwickshire/Roxburghshire district, to be the key contact for gardens in that part of the district, supporting them with their open days and encouraging new gardens to join with us. Do you live in Berwickshire and are interested? If you’d like to find out more, fill in the volunteer enquiry form for further details.
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 volunteer enquiry form mentioning your interest in this.
Media Volunteer, Edinburgh, Mid and West Lothian
Are you a whizz at social media and would love to raise the profile of SGS across Edinburgh and the Lothians? This role could be perfect for you. We need someone who loves to create beautiful posts that attract followers and, thus, visitors to the garden being promoted. Please do complete the volunteer enquiry form if you are keen to take on such a role.
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.
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
Area Organiser, Lochaber
If you live in the beautiful Lochaber area of Scotland and would love to engage with gardens and Garden Owners there, this could be the role for you. Interested? Please complete the volunteer enquiry form and we will be in touch with you.
Area Organiser, Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney, Shetland
If you are a resident of Shetland with a love of gardens and gardening, being the Area Organiser for those islands within the bigger district, might be perfect for you. There is plenty of (long distance) support and we would love to have you on board. Please complete the volunteer enquiry form and we will get back to you.
Area Organiser, other districts
We have a number of districts across Scotland who would love a keen, motivated person to join their team and support the Garden Openers in a specific area of the district with their open days and all things related to SGS. If this sounds like something you would love to do, please complete the volunteer enquiry form and we will get back to you.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: Event Volunteers
Argyll: Area Organisers, especially for Lochaber area
Berwickshire/Roxburghshire: Area Organiser, Event Volunteers
Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney & Shetland: Area Organiser (Shetland), Event Volunteers
Dumfriesshire: Area Organisers
Dunbartonshire: Area Organisers, Event Volunteers
East Lothian: Area Organisers
Edinburgh, Mid and West Lothian: Media Volunteer, Area Organisers, Event Volunteers
Fife: Area Organisers & Event Volunteers
Glasgow: Area Organisers, Event Volunteers
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
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.
