About
The Hospice of St Francis is a charity which helps 2,000 local people and their families, in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, to live their precious lives well.
Improving symptoms, achieving ...
Gardener
Contact person
Scan me or visit www.volunteerbucks.org.uk/o/Hospice-of-St-Francis/opportunities/Gardener/94357 to join
Detailed description
Hours: Variable - Tuesday mornings
Many people may be well aware of The Hospice of St Francis and the wonderful work done with both inpatient and community-based care, however they perhaps will not be aware of the extensive grounds at the Hospice and that they are cared for by a team of volunteers. The seven acres of grounds are a mix of formal gardens, woodland and a wildflower meadow with a woodland walk and provide an opportunity for patients, visitors and staff to enjoy the benefits of a wonderful garden and a chance to enjoy our part of the Hertfordshire countryside with wonderful views across to Ashridge.
The ethos of the gardens is very much towards conservation with no use of insecticides or herbicides and with composting of all possible matter. Our aim is to encourage all wildlife in the gardens.
There are a group of about 35 individuals, who operate in teams responsible for their own section of the garden under head gardener, Gill Johnson. We are currently looking for extra help, particularly from people with gardening experience, although all are welcome. We meet on a Tuesday morning each week, with a break for coffee and cake mid-morning.
We carry on throughout the winter, although not in snow and ice. Winter jobs are a warming workout and include leaf raking; grass cutting (training on machinery provided); fencing; building 'dead' hedges.
To quote one of our gardeners “I work with lovely people in a wonderful setting and we are doing something really useful, what’s not to like?"
What we will provide to volunteers
🤝 Extra supportAbout Hospice of St Francis
Improving symptoms, achieving personal goals and helping them to feel safe.
Defined by each person’s need, our free care for people managing, or recovering from, serious illness has many forms – care at the Hospice, at Home, or in our Health and Wellbeing Centre which offers courses, workshops, clinics and therapies. Our team of over 1,300 volunteers is implicit to the work of the Hospice of St Francis. They help to raise money, care for patients, welcome visitors, support families, highlight our work in the community and keep everything running smoothly. Our volunteers go the extra mile and ensure that all of our patients and their loved ones receive ‘total care when time is precious.’