Are You Active And Love The Outdoors?

What

does it take to keep Whittington Castle grounds tidy and pleasing to look at? A volunteer work force of kind-hearted people who have a passion for the outdoors, socialising and keeping busy. The Castle is recruiting volunteers to join its gardening group for fun, accomplishment and to find a sense of purpose.

The resident gardening group, The Bramble Bashers, currently meet every Friday 11am-2pm on site at the Castle. The volunteers are all ages and from all walks of life but have a shared interest in contributing to the running of the local landmark.

The castle was hugely impacted by lockdown but once over, one volunteer Linda Lindup (pictured) along with team members, worked hard to get on top of the brambles and overgrown weeds that had taken over. Linda sadly passed early 2023 but is fondly remembered for her passion and tireless commitment to maintaining the beauty of the castle.

General Manager, Kimberley, explained why volunteering is fun and for everyone. “Some volunteers focus and take responsibility on one area, which works for them. Others like to try a bit of everything. The type of work really varies on the weather. We have bulb planting, clearing, weeding, path clearance and larger scale clearances. For the braver volunteers, there’s even opportunity to put waders on and get in the moat to clear reeds and algae.”

How often can you say you’ve been in a castle moat! With options during the winter to help out with painting and DIY tasks, you can contribute as much time to the team as you like and if Fridays don’t work for you, the castle welcomes contributors at a time convenient to them.

Children are also welcome, with a kids group the ‘Eco Warriors’ meeting on the first Saturday every month from 10.30am to midday. The group was originally initiated by one local lad, Linus Richardson, who wrote to the Castle requesting to help both the Preservation Trust and the environment. During the mornings, the youngsters build bug hotels, go pond dipping and follow wildlife identification walks amongst other things. The focus is on getting involved and having fun. Eco Warriors is aimed at Primary aged pupils with parents and siblings getting involved and everyone gets a free hot chocolate for taking part (funded by the Preservation Trust).

Children are also welcome, with a kids group the ‘Eco Warriers’ meeting on the first Saturday every month. The youngsters build bug hotels, go pond dipping and follow wildlife identification walks amongst other things.

Who Volunteers?

It’s well documented that doing volunteer work contributes to improved sense of well-being and mental health.

Volunteering is great for CV building and getting back into work. The team can tailor jobs to demonstrate skills and boost skill sets.

If you can only spare a few hours, how about volunteering at the castle’s events, like car park marshal, prepping before events or running the tombola. It all helps.

If you’re a Cub, Scout, Brownie or even working on your Duke of Edinburgh, the Castle can help you meet your milestones, so you achieve the awards you want.

When you volunteer, the Castle gives you complimentary drinks and half price food whilst working on site. So, there are lots of benefits.

Business Collaborations

The Castle team are open to working with local businesses to collaborate on projects. The Castle has a meeting room available which offers something different and is a significant talking point. Staff volunteering days are also available which are great for team building. Do you have ideas?

Recently, a small herb garden has been added, based on what was growing during Medieval times. This has added extra interest to the site for visitors and given the gardens team the opportunity to be creative alongside undertaking many maintenance jobs.

Bulbs for planting have been donated by Borderland Rotary, and the Preservation Trust are fundraising to hire/and buy additional equipment and tools.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or would like further information, please call 01691 662500, email info@whittingtoncastle.co.uk or pop in during a Friday lunchtime.