Woman from Good Gym waters the sunflowers with a watering can. She is wearing a red tshirt and smiling at the camera

Volunteer gardening and horticultural training in Sydney Gardens

Join us in Sydney Gardens for outdoor gardening and conservation volunteering.  Enjoy the fresh air and the plants and nature.

How you can join in the gardening activities?

    • the weekday gardening session on Wednesday mornings led by the Sydney Gardening team 
    • a horticultural training session
    • our conservation activities
    • a monthly gardening session on the second Sunday of the month led by the Friends of Sydney Gardens.  

Every Wednesday: Volunteer Gardening - 10am – 11.30am

Join this friendly informal small group session led by Mali Kedward, our Horticultural Participation Officer for the Sydney Gardens Project and Matt Watson, our Horticultural Apprentice. Activities vary each week but could include planting, weeding, pruning, scrub clearance etc. 
No gardening experience necessary, but we welcome your skills if you're a gardener! Tools and gloves provided. Please wear sturdy footwear and long sleeves! Bring your own drink and a snack as needed. This activity has been risk assessed for Covid safety. We ask all volunteers to follow the safety information and social distancing guidance. 
Email Mali with any questions. Book in through our Eventbrite site - it helps us know who's coming.

Second Sundays: Volunteer Gardening - Every Second Sunday of the Month, 10am – 12 noon.

Contact the Friends of Sydney Gardens about their small group volunteer gardening session.

Sign up to our mailing list to get a monthly update.

Read past issues of our e-newsletters


Past Gardening and Training Activities, 2021

Grow Sunflowers with us! - Wednesday 14 April 2021

Collect a sunflower seed sowing kit from Sydney Gardens this Easter holiday to help us grow some sunflowers for the park. Limited kits available. For details of the family friendly activity and to reserve a kit for collection, book here.

How to Make a Willow Tipi Plant Support - Saturday 17 April 2021

You will learn the traditional art of willow weaving to create your own plant support for climbing plants such as sweet peas.  Numbers are limited to keep groups small, and booking is essential (bookings open Tuesday 6 April).

Special activity as part of Mental Health Awareness Week:

Gardening for wildlife/pollinators -  Wednesday 12 May - 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Would you like to learn about how to make a garden more wildlife friendly?  In this session we’ll identify which plants benefit insects and what we can do to encourage other wildlife including pollinators into the garden.  This is a relaxed, small group training session, where you will learn practical ways to help our local wildlife and in turn, increase our appreciation and knowledge of our natural world.  This session will take place outdoors in Sydney Gardens. No experience necessary, tools and equipment provided. Booking essential due to small group.

Family Gardening for Wildlife - Tuesday 27 July - 2pm-4pm

Join our Horticultural Participation Officer Mali Kedward for an outdoor family learning and play session in Sydney Gardens. You will learn how to encourage more wildlife to gardens and parks in a practical hands-on way. This session is designed for children aged 8-12 but siblings are welcome. Booking essential.

Wildflower Meadow Enhancement - Wednesday 22 September 2021 - 4pm - 5.30pm

Join the project team to enhance the area near the Bathwick Street entrance with wildflower plug plants! Book your place here.

Growing Herbs - Wednesday 29 September 2021 - 1pm to 4pm

Join Rowan Wynne-Jones from Herbs for Healing in this outdoor learning session in Sydney Gardens. You will learn how to grow herbs at home, how to use herbs in a wide range of ways and taste some fresh home-made herbal teas.  These free training sessions are especially for people who volunteer with us, or who are interested in volunteering in the future. Book your place here.


Past Gardening and Training Activities, 2020

Our Horticulture Training Programme that was due to start in March 2020 was cancelled as a result of the pandemic. We restarted our volunteer gardening sessions and training programme in the Autumn with some activities online and some outside in small groups.

Planting Shrubs for Wildlife - Wednesday 14 of October 2020

This course will explore which native shrubs we have in the UK and their associations with wildlife. You’ll also learn about sourcing shrubs and how best to plant them. This training course is a practical outdoor training session. Spaces are limited and reserved for existing Sydney Gardening Volunteers.

How to Plant a Bulb Lasagne - Wednesday 25 November 2020

Would you like a bit more colour in your garden? Mali and Matt can help you learn how to plant bulbs in lasagne style layers to optimise your spring pot colour.  Participants will be provided with a pack, instructions and online support so that they can learn from the comfort of their own garden/balcony. (limited spaces available)


Past Gardening and Training Activities, 2019

First Thursdays: Volunteer Gardening - 3rd October, 7th November & 5th December, 10am - 12 noon

Help us enhance Sydney Gardens for wildlife and for people. Come along on the first Thursday of the month to join in with gardening and conservation activities led by Mali. No previous experience necessary. Meet by the park entrance behind the Holburne Museum.  Tools and gloves provided.

Hazel Hurdle Making - Saturday 9th November, 10am - 1pm

Come and learn the traditional craft of hurdle making using locally sourced hazel wood. You will learn a heritage skill and we will work together to create a low hurdle fence to frame a new flower bed in the garden. No previous experience necessary. Further information and book your free place here - 12 places available.

Conservation Gym Taster Session - Saturday 23rd November, 10am - 12 noon & 1pm - 3pm

Are you interested in helping to improve the biodiversity of Sydney Gardens whilst getting fitter?  Join us for an active volunteering session. Come along to either a morning or afternoon session, or both of them!  No previous experience necessary. Wear sturdy footwear and comfy clothing. All tools provided. Meet at the park entrance behind the Holburne Museum.

Your rating: 

No votes yet
To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.