Become a Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to meet new friends, learn new skills, have fun, get work experience, do something you find rewarding, give something back to the community, be part of an on-going project, keep yourself busy. Volunteering particularly volunteering in the outdoors has proven health and therapeutic benefits.

We hold regular volunteer sessions throughout the year in the walled garden, where you can help maintain and improve the garden, (planting, weeding, pruning etc). No experience necessary, just pop along and you are sure to receive a warm welcome.

Current opening hours:

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays 10am - 12pm
Wednesdays 1pm - 3pm


The Walled Garden is closed to the public from Sunday 17th December. We will re-open on Saturday March 2nd 2024. 

 Volunteering will re-commence on Tuesday February 6th 2024.

Evenings in the summer - perhaps you can spare an hour to help with watering?

Don't like gardening? We have other volunteer opportunities available, perhaps you would like to help organise events, chat to garden visitors, fund raise or do the book keeping?

If you become a regular volunteer you can become an associate member of Friends of Markeaton Park. You can attend open meetings, put forward ideas and suggestions and join in with social events.

"Hello, my name is Linda and for the past year I have been a volunteer with the Friends of Markeaton Park at the newly restored walled garden. 
I first knew about the Friends of Markeaton Park at the official opening of the walled garden in August 2015.
It took me to February last year to pluck up the courage to visit the walled garden and ask about volunteering.  There I met Mel, busily digging,
I asked about volunteering and agreed I would return the next day, a Sunday, to begin my volunteering career.
I am a keen flower gardener and know very little about growing vegetables.  However, this was to change as I was set to work sowing vegetable seeds
and planting onion sets. 
Over the past year I have enjoyed digging, sowing and clearing the garden, and have had the satisfaction of seeing all the seeds I had sown
coming to fruition with fresh vegetables and blooming flowers.
I chose to volunteer at the weekends as, since my husband died, I had time on my hands and the garden has been a lovely way of spending this time
and I have made lots of new friends.
Last November I was invited to attend a Trustees meeting held at Derby University.  I am now a Trustee and can put forward ideas and comments
on the running of the garden.
This last year has been very therapeutic as well as rewarding, when in the spring and summer the garden is in full bloom and colour for all the
senses to enjoy.
As well as the weekends the garden is open on Monday afternoon and Thursday morning for volunteers, so if you have a couple of hours to spare
and enjoy gardening come and join us". 

Group volunteering

We can also arrange one off volunteer sessions either in the walled garden or wider park for groups (employers, Brownies, Cubs, schools etc) of no more than 20 people.
To find out more either pop into the walled garden during the volunteer times above or email [email protected]

Thank you to the group from the Church of Pentecost, Nottingham District Youth Ministry for their hard work on their recent volunteer day.

Green Flag Awards