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.
Click below to read more about each of this year’s nine nominees.
Marion Blair
For being instrumental in London Parks & Gardens’ new feature called “Behind the Scenes”, as well as supporting its annual fundraiser, London Open Gardens.
“Thank you so much to the London Parks & Garden Trust for nominating me. What a delightful surprise and such a fantastic celebration of the work of all the volunteers throughout the country”.
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.
“Stunned and delighted to be nominated. It really should be a team nomination, as everyone at KGT is a volunteer, and a small group of us worked together on the website/ database project”.
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.
“It is most touching to be nominated particularly as it is such a lovely organisation to be part of. Many friendships have been made as visits unite the north and south of the county. I have been a member since 1997 having been asked to join by Gilly Drummond who had just held the inaugural meeting to start Cumbria’s GT off.”
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.
“What a wonderful surprise to be nominated for the Volunteer of the Year Award. Volunteering for the Gardens Trust in recent years has been an absolute pleasure, giving me the opportunity to meet inspiring speakers, the owners of historic landscapes and gardens, and promote the pioneering use of Zoom, which has done so much to create new worldwide audiences for garden and landscape history. I feel sure I have got back far more than I have given”.
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.
“I hope my work over the years on London Parks & Gardens’ IT systems has helped us to protect and celebrate our wonderful green spaces”.
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.
“I’m delighted to have been nominated for the Volunteer Award for my work with the Gardens Trust events marketing team, and thankful for their unwavering trust and encouragement. I’ve really enjoyed being able to try out different opportunities like graphic design, and support incredibly meaningful efforts like cheering on our runners at the London Marathon!”
Jim Stockwell
For supporting and encouraging the work of other volunteers of Sussex Gardens Trust and being the coordinator of the Conservation Group particularly during the past two years.
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.
About the Volunteer Award
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.
