We are delighted to have received many inspiring nominations for the Volunteer Award 2025, from across the country.
The Volunteer Award is intended to celebrate volunteers and recognise the value of volunteering; showcase volunteers and the contribution they make; and encourage volunteering through a variety of roles.
Nominees are:
- Marion Blair, for establishing and managing London Parks & Gardens’ Inventory of historic parks and gardens across Greater London, as well as supporting its annual fundraiser, London Open Gardens.
- India Cole, for her work organising the Gardens Trust’s New Research Symposium and on the Events team
- Annette Fettes, for steering Kent Gardens Trust through the process of creating a new website.
- Clare Greener, for her contributions to Devon Gardens Trust in research and recording, conservation, and publications, as well as supporting events, garden visits and working parties.
- Diana Matthews, for her work as honorary secretary of the Cumbria Gardens Trust, including in that role organising events and other activities.
- Sandra Pullen, for her contribution to the Gardens Trust’s Education & Training Committee and being a major player in the events programme over the last two years.
- Colin Wing, for being London Parks & Gardens’ in-house tech guru, including for fundraising and membership systems, as well as also organising and running cycle tours.
- Zhixin Zheng, for support to the Gardens Trust Events team, from helping find new audiences, to building relationships with similar organisations. to generating promotional social media content.
The winner will be announced at the Volunteer Celebration on 9th July at Stowe for our Volunteer Celebration. All active GT and CGT volunteers are invited to this free event – book your place here.
Anybody can nominate someone they know for the Award, but candidates must be active volunteers with either a County Gardens Trust or the Gardens Trust. They can be nominated as an individual or as a team.
Candidates need to be volunteers involved in at least one of the following, in the past 2 years:
- Making a difference to the day to day running of a County Gardens Trust or the national Gardens Trust
- The research and conservation aspects of a County Gardens Trust or the national Gardens Trust
- Work for a County Gardens Trust or the Gardens Trust to reach new audiences to encourage interest and/or involvement in garden history
We have also been sent details of volunteers who have been working generously for their County Gardens Trusts for many decades and will be recognising and celebrating their contribution at the 9th July Volunteer Celebration too.
You can read about the winners of last year’s Award here – Barbara Moth and Claire de Carle.
