As part of our celebrations for Volunteers’ Week 2025, we spoke with one of our longest-serving volunteers, Sue Simpson, about the enormous contribution the volunteers make to The Garden. Volunteers are essential to the functioning of The Garden and maintaining our charitable aims. Without them, The Garden simply wouldn’t be able to run.
Join us from Monday 2nd to Sunday 8th June as we celebrate our volunteers and extend our thanks to their unwavering support.
A note from Sue:
Volunteering for a cause you believe in is one of the most rewarding things you can do. It provides the opportunity to help your community, support a charity you hold dear and make a difference.
Volunteering for The Garden started in 2000, the year before it opened to the public. The volunteer programme was set up by a close friend of the Duchess of Northumberland, Ian August and his wife Ann.
Ian and Ann were friends of mine. They were asked to recruit volunteers to help with the many roles needed to bring the Duchess’ vision of The Garden to life. Enrolling as a volunteer for this new, fabulous and innovative initiative became a unique and exciting journey for many of us.
Ann was joined by Tom Pattinson, an expert gardener and plantsman who recruited the volunteer gardeners. Between them, they enrolled 90 friends and friends of friends.
Seven of the original volunteers still remain, of which I am one.
As The Garden grew and the vision of Her Grace came to life, it exceeded every expectation. And with every innovation and extension, came the chance to recruit more staff and volunteers. Over the past 25 years, the addition of the Poison Garden, Community and Education and Lilidorei have contributed to developing The Garden into a major tourist attraction.
But to us the volunteers, and those in need who benefit from our charitable initiatives, The Garden has become so much more, establishing itself as a central part of our community.
At present, 86 volunteers are working in Admin, the Charity Office and the Drop In. They offer assistance as Gardeners, Guides, and Hosts. And each volunteer who gives up their time has their own story to tell.
Volunteers traditionally fall into the retired category. Frequently, the long-awaited retirement can leave time to expand and develop new interests. Whilst still able to work, they do not want the responsibility or the time constrictions of full-time work. Therefore, volunteering provides camaraderie, new experiences and a chance to pursue hobbies like gardening.
In true the Alnwick Garden style, it was decided that we would break the volunteering mould and organise the timed help by the volunteers in a different way from organisations such as The National Trust. Our volunteers are not required to give up a full day with set times for breaks. Our teams follow the needs of the activity to ensure that the support is covered to achieve safety and completion. The activities are organised by the staff and the volunteers follow their guidance. The volunteer’s role is flexible enough to change if change is needed.
The Elderberries programme was founded in 2013, and volunteers have been pivotal in ensuring that guests have a wonderful time in the Blooming Well sessions. Whether it is a party, memory session, baking, painting lanterns or offering support with the trials and tribulations of computers and phones with Tea and Tech, each activity offers support, company and solace.
The roles and demands of the volunteers are ever-evolving to meet the needs of The Garden. Along with traditional gardening roles, there are now Roots and Shoots and The Gentleman’s Garden, working with children and elderly men to develop a keen interest in gardening and the outdoors whilst creating a sense of community and togetherness. For the volunteers spreading care has a role in everything.
The original Volunteers’ Constitution read:
Our objective is to promote the interests of the Volunteers to help develop, fundraise, manage and promote the Charitable objectives of “The Alnwick Garden Trust”
But it is so much more.
Our visitors in whatever capacity are so very important to us all. It was brought home to me quite early on in my journey through volunteering. I joined at the time The Garden was first created. I am fascinated by history and to be surrounded by some of the most interesting deeds in history was wonderful. To be able to share my passion with other interested visitors, as well as enthusing about the new designs and concepts made me join as a Host and Guide. By 2010 I was Chair of the Volunteers and I remained in this position until 2013, it was an incredible time.
In 2015, Her Grace outlined a new project, The Drop-In, which has become my main focus. The Drop-In supports over 55s in the local community who are alone and in need of company. The aim is to encourage people to join us, make friends and enjoy life in a place which feels like home. I have also been Chair of the volunteers for the last 4 years and represent them on the Strategic Heads Committee.
The Garden had, and does, evoke much excitement from everywhere and many groups came to visit and want to try everything. Early on in my time as a volunteer, one of my groups was interested in The Treehouse and its Wonky Bridges. They were mature adults and one of them was severely sight impaired and with a guide dog.
They were having much fun and daring each other to try the walk. The lovely lady with the guide dog whispered to me that she had always wanted to do something daring and this was on her bucket list. She had heard about it from a friend and she had plucked up the courage to go for it. Would I hold the dog as she worried about him? The dog and I spent the next few minutes looking down the walk and waiting…
When they returned there was triumphal celebration from the group and much relief from the dog and I. This moment came back to me when I wrote a contribution to our guidebook.
“To help someone fulfil a dream is truly a privilege”
We are delighted to share this year’s Social Impact report, which proudly highlights the impact The Alnwick Garden Trust has made in our community over 2024/25. The Trust is truly unique, not only providing a destination for a great day out, but also as the home of life changing programmes that support those most in need.
