Our wonderful community of volunteers play an important role in maintaining and preserving the beauty of the gardens for all to enjoy, so we’re taking the time to celebrate their work and find out more about why they choose to volunteer with us.
We caught up with Maki, who’s been with us since 2019, to hear her thoughts on volunteering at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens…
Tell us a little bit about yourself…
“Hi, I’m Maki and I am from Japan. I have lived in many countries before settling in the UK with my husband and two children four years ago. We really love the UK!”
Why did you decide to start volunteering at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens?
“I have always loved gardening. When I decided to change my career to become a garden designer, I thought I could learn more about plants at the Gardens as well as be useful. It's a mutual relationship!”
Had you ever volunteered anywhere else before?
“Yes, my first volunteering experience was in 1995, when the Great Hanshin Earthquake hit near my hometown. I helped foster dogs and cats who lost their owners to find their new home. Ever since then, I have been doing all sorts of volunteering activities, mostly wildlife or environmental related.”
What do you love about volunteering at the Gardens?
“Meeting other volunteers and new people. The people I meet in the Gardens are all nice and interesting. They all have different backgrounds, and I love to hear their stories. I also love to see the gardens throughout the year and see the seasonal changes.”
What’s been your favourite moment so far?
“When visitors talk to me and thank me for keeping the gardens nice. Even though it's small, I feel like I'm contributing something to society.”
What have you learned whilst volunteering at the Gardens?
“Well, of course, many plants' names. On top of that, how to prune, plant diseases, which plants are weeds and which weeds are nasty ones… and I’ve also learned lots of English by chatting with people!”
What would you say to anyone who is thinking about volunteering at the Gardens?
“The staff and volunteers are really nice. It is a great work environment. Plus, who wouldn't want to have fresh air, move your body, and appreciate plants in the beautiful gardens? To me, it's better than going to a gym!”
If you’re interested in volunteering at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens or you’d like to find out more about the diverse range of volunteering roles that we have available, please visit our volunteering page.
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