Hugs Foundation Gardening and growing spaces volunteer

Our growing spaces support volunteers form an important part of our team here at The Hugs foundation.  Although we operate on a 40-acre, wildlife focussed site within the countryside, and we care for up to 50 animals at a time, we also have a small site of growing spaces. Our volunteer team is involved in propagating, planting out, growing fruits and vegetables and harvesting a wide variety of seasonal plants. The growing spaces are used as part of the wellbeing programmes developed here at Hugs educating the children with the experience of growing food from scratch, resulting in yummy healthy food for both the children and the animals cared for by Hugs to consume. There are dedicated sensory garden spaces, fruit and veg growing spaces, plenty of raised beds and containers, fruit cages and small trees. Each year we grow more and grow new, and always with nature in mind. Volunteers dip in to the areas of volunteering which which suit them best.

Brief description of some growing spaces support tasks: 

• To help us fruit, vegetables and herbs for our animals to eat
• To help maintain and tend the grow beds, flowers beds and allotment areas to ensure a constant, healthy supply.
• To grow plants and flowers to create a bright, welcoming and aesthetically pleasing yard environment and support nature.
• To help us maintain and tidy ground areas, which might include strimming, weed clearing and cutting back hedgerows.
• To have fun developing wild areas, creating environments for wildlife, bees and other insects to survive and thrive.
• To look after the ornamental ponds and other special features in the sensory garden that are regularly visited to vulnerable people using our services.
• To forage on our 40 acre site for feed for the animals in our care, such as brambles, willow and hawthorn.
• If possible, helping us to source donations of young plants or propagate plants.
• Helping us at events on site, for example if we have a plant stall. 

What are the benefits to you? 

• Volunteer alongside a dedicated team of like-minded people, both staff and volunteers and make new friends
• Improve your own physical and mental wellbeing
• A sense of fulfilment, by giving back to your local community
• Being able to utilise your existing skills, knowledge and experience
• Gain some work environment experience
• Setting yourself a new challenge