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Volunteering at Sissinghurst Castle Garden

A Sissinghurst volunteer enjoying the sun with a visitor in the Delos garden
A Sissinghurst volunteer enjoying the sun with a visitor in the Delos garden | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Volunteers are a vital part of the day to day running here at Sissinghurst Castle Garden. Help us conserve this historic place and further the legacy of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson.

Volunteering opportunities 

We’d love to welcome enthusiastic volunteers to help visitors feel welcome, immersed in our story and to get the best out of their day. 

Watch this video to find out why some of our volunteers chose Sissinghurst: Volunteering at Sissinghurst Castle Garden

House experience

Help keep our indoor spaces open to the public by: 

  • Engaging with visitors in our Long Library and Elizabethan Tower 
  • Sharing stories about our rich history 
  • Stewarding any exhibitions we host about the Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson 

Visitor experience 

Make someone's visit special by: 

  • Welcoming visitors in our car park, visitor reception and at the garden entrance 
  • Becoming a buggy driver which provides step free access to visitors across the main areas of the site 
  • Providing excellent customer service in areas such as the Granary restaurant 
  • Engaging with visitors in our second-hand bookshop where each purchase goes towards the preservation of Sissinghurst Castle Garden 
  • Delighting visitors with poetry readings and welcome talks 

Gardening volunteers 

Contribute to the current and future vision of our historic garden by:

  • Using sustainable practices such as composting 
  • Mulching, rose pruning, lending a hand to pot and trough displays 
  • Carrying out No Dig techniques and harvesting in the organic Vegetable Garden 

Ranger volunteers 

Support our Ranger team in their day to day conservation work across the wider Estate by:

  • Taking part in our wildlife surveys, birds butterflies and dragonflies 
  • Coppicing, being part of the production of turning our sweet chestnuts into fencing products that are used on-site and at other National Trust properties  
  • Using traditional skills such as hedge laying

Facilities volunteers

Lend a hand to our daily site operations by:

  • Maintaining presentation standards through the upkeep of signage 
  • Mending breakages 

Community volunteers

Support our wider volunteer team in an administrative role by: 

  • Regularly updating rotas 
  • Utilising our volunteering system to ensure our volunteers get the best opportunities they can 
Hard at work in the Cottage Garden at Sissinghurst
Hard at work in the Cottage Garden at Sissinghurst | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

 

Why join us?

There are lots of reasons to join us; making the move to volunteer could be the best decision you ever make. 

  • Become part of a friendly and dedicated team 
  • Meet people from all walks of life and forge new friendships 
  • Utilise your existing skills and learn new ones 
  • Strengthen your CV and help to develop your career 
  • Enjoy the great outdoors 
  • Learn about the history of this special place.

 

Get in touch about volunteering at Sissinghurst Castle Garden

We’re currently looking for more volunteers with great people skills to join our friendly team. There are many reasons to volunteer for the National Trust, such as making new friends, gaining new skills and building your CV, as well as working with us to preserve these iconic places for the future.

If you’d like to know more, please email sissinghurst@nationaltrust.org.uk or call us on 01580 710700. 

Sign up here

 

Thank you

Thank you to all our volunteers who give their time to support the National Trust in many different roles. 

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