Volunteer at Trewithen Gardens

Sowing the Seeds

Volunteering at Trewithen Gardens offers more than just the opportunity to work in one of Cornwall’s most cherished historic gardens. It’s a chance to grow your skills, learn alongside our Head Gardener Gary Long and his talented team, and immerse yourself in the art and science of gardening. From mastering horticultural techniques to understanding the rhythms of a working garden, every day brings fresh challenges and learning opportunities. Our longest standing volunteer, Mike, has been responsible for the deadwood ‘igloos’ you can spot around the garden, which we’re sure many small mammals and insects also thank him for.

Cultivating community

Our volunteers’ achievements speak for themselves. We are always thrilled to hear about the flourishing careers that many have gone on to enjoy. Here are just a few examples:

Starting as a dedicated and passionate volunteer at Trewithen in 2008, Adam Carveth is now Head Gardener of Trelissick, Glendurgan and Trerice:

"My horticulture journey started from a chat at Trewithen Gardens with Head Gardener Gary Long who invited me up to try out volunteering. To this day Gary has helped to advise me, and I have to thank him and Trewithen for where I am now. And it all started with volunteering at Trewithen Gardens with Gary, the best decision I ever made."

Inez Williams-King, who first volunteered at Trewithen for her Gold Duke of Edinburgh award and has gone on to launch “The Grower Nursery,” selling over one million local provenance trees and carving out her own niche in the horticulture industry:

"At this point in my life, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do. I loved the oldly world stories of the gardens of Cornwall, of the stories of plant hunters and pirates… there was just something about these garden spaces in Cornwall which bloomed pink in the darkest grey days of a drizzly Cornish January that just drew me in.

It’s a very cliché thing to say the rest is history, but my time volunteering at Trewithen has very much impacted every aspect of my education and career. From Gary just giving me time to shadow his hugely extensive knowledge; meetings about the garden or events; his trust to let you give anything a go, from research, to maintenance, to design. As well as pointing you in the direction of interesting books, chatting through career opportunities, and lending of books from his library. If you showed an interest Gary was there to give you a helping hand.  

It’s through Trewithen and Gary that I went onto win the Merlin Bursary in 2012 which enabled me to spend time researching the Water Gardens which then informed my undergraduate dissertation. Then when the time came, the sponge of information I absorbed from Gary and then my undergraduate thesis directly inspired my Master’s Thesis, ‘A Cornish Vernacular Garden’, which formed part of the research within the Cornish Distinctiveness - Cornwall Council project. 

The general knowledge and passion of the whole team then the networks of those connected with the garden is captivating. I will always remember when Gary came back from his trip to China following in the footsteps of George Forest and just being absolutely enchanted.

Now that I’m able to employ my own team and mentor young people, Gary is still informing who I want to be as an employer and how I want to interact with my team. If I can provide that encouragement and step on the ladder for even half the young people Gary has supported, I will be incredibly proud."

Helen Perrott started volunteering at Trewithen after a long period of ill health, and says of her time at Trewithen: 

“It not only reignited my love of the outdoors but it was there that I started to discover how healing nature can be. Volunteering at Trewithen gave me back my confidence & self-esteem. A massive thanks to Gary & the team who were so friendly & supportive. My journey has continued with studying, developing & running immersive sessions to guide others in the healing benefits of nature.”

Nicola Johnson needed some practical experience when taking up horticulture as a career change:

"From the first day Gary and the team at Trewithen were welcoming and supportive, even though I knew almost nothing about plants or gardening! By the end of my year there I had learned an enormous amount about plants, gardening and how gardens are managed. Without Gary's encouragement I would never have had the confidence to take the next step to apply for a three-year traineeship with the Professional Gardeners' Guild. Whether you have ambitions to become a gardener, or just want to spend some time outdoors helping out in a beautiful garden, Trewithen is a fantastic garden to volunteer where you will learn loads and feel like one of the team."

Lucy Hammonds blossomed during her time at Trewithen, and she thrives in her new role at the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

"The time I have spent at Trewithen has, I can honestly say, made me the person I am today. With the help of Gary and his team I have become more confident in not only the workplace but in myself."

begin your next chapter

Volunteering at Trewithen Gardens is your chance to be part of something special, and placements can be adapted to suit a wide range of requirements. Whether you are seeking practical experience, considering a career change, or simply hoping to spend more time in the fresh air, you will be supported and valued by the team.

We offer lunch from the Tea Shed during your volunteer days in the gardens, and we will also cover your fuel or travel expenses to get here.

If you’d like to know more, please contact Gary Long on 01726 883647 or email gary@trewithengardens.co.uk. We would love to hear from you.