“If you are ever presented with the opportunity to do some voluntary work at Roots and Shoots - grab it! The place will gladden your heart, and renew your faith in humans and nature.”
Make a Difference by Volunteering at Roots and Shoots
Roots and Shoots regularly hosts corporate, non-profit and government volunteers, who do invaluable work gardening and maintaining our site.
Although our staff and students undertake much of the garden maintenance as part of their training, it is not enough to fully maintain our large biodiverse site. We depend on volunteer groups to do some of the more practical activities which help underpin the high standard of our gardens, such as weeding, hedge pruning, and making compost.
Volunteer groups are supported by our expert gardeners, so regardless of gardening experience, groups can get stuck in and make a positive impact.
We are able to take groups of people between 5 and 15, for half or full days. We provide gloves, tools, materials and training for all activities on the day, so anyone can make a positive difference volunteering with us.
Organisations can contact us to arrange a volunteering day at Roots and Shoots, which can be combined with venue hire for meetings and away days. We are a busy site, so it’s best to contact us well in advance to make your booking.
Please note that over winter, between mid December and early March, we are closed to volunteer groups while the gardens hibernate.
Benefits for volunteer groups at Roots and Shoots include:
Get out of the office and enjoy a day of satisfying physical activities outside amongst nature
Directly support an award-winning educational charity and the local community it serves
Learn green skills and sustainable ways to garden
Take part in excellent practical team building activities
Directly support London’s biodiversity by helping to maintain our green spaces which are home to a wide range of wildlife
Funds raised from volunteering go towards our environmental projects, ensuring that your day has even further impact.
Costs
To cover the cost of our horticultural staff who support you on the day and materials for activities, we ask for a donation from our corporate volunteers. Any leftover funds go towards our fundraising projects to ensure the positive impacts of your day at Roots and Shoots are long-lasting.
A half-day at Roots and Shoots(9.45am - 12.30pm) - £600 for up to 15 people
A full day at Roots and Shoots (9.45am - 3.30pm) - £1000 for up to 15 people
We also offer a delicious vegetarian lunch, made in our kitchens by our chefs and students with ingredients from our gardens, available upon request.
We reserve a small number of volunteering days each year for non-profit organisations and government departments who would like to get involved but do not have the ability to donate.
An example day at Roots and Shoots...
The group arrives at 9.45am, with coffee, tea and biscuits to start the day
At 10.15am, a member of our team gives an introduction to Roots and Shoots, including a tour of the site, the positive impact of volunteering, and a health and safety talk
Volunteering starts at 10.40am, where we explain the tasks for the day, and provide all tools required. Each group is supervised by a member of staff who gives support and guidance to ensure the task is completed successfully.
We plan a range of green outdoor activities for each day, depending on the seasons and our projects. Our main project for 2025 is redeveloping part of our Wild Garden into a new space for environmental education and urban wildlife conservation.
Lunch is generally an hour from 12.30pm, with the option of bringing your own or pre-ordering catering for the whole group.
Groups finish at 3.30pm, feeling satisfied after a day of practical work which has directly helped Roots and Shoots to thrive.
“I organised an away day for my team here and the folks at Roots and Shoots couldn't have been more welcoming, accommodating and living what they breathe.”
