skip to main content
The Royal Parks web site uses cookies. By browsing you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Read our cookie policy
  • Home
  • Media Centre
  • Careers
  • Shop
  • Contact us
  • searchsearch
The Royal Parks menu
  • Parks
    • Hyde Park
    • Kensington Gardens
    • Richmond Park
    • Bushy Park
    • St James's Park
    • The Green Park
    • The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
    • Greenwich Park
    • Brompton Cemetery
    • Victoria Tower Gardens
  • What's on
    • Upcoming events
    • Latest news
    • Blog
    • The Royal Parks Podcast
    • Self guided walks
    • Learn Online
    • The Great Exhibition Virtual Tour
    • Sign up to our Newsletter
    • Event Feedback
  • Managing the parks
    • Park management plans
    • Park regulations, legislation and policies
    • Park strategies
    • Holding events in the Royal Parks
    • Cycling in the Royal Parks
    • Conservation and improvement projects
    • Consultations
    • Licences and permits
    • Policing in the Royal Parks
    • Visitor satisfaction research
  • Support
    • Make a donation
    • Give a significant gift 
    • Leave a gift in your Will 
    • Run, cycle or swim for the parks
    • Hire The LookOut, Hyde Park
    • Become a partner
    • Corporate volunteering
    • Tributes in your local park
  • Learn
    • Learn in our Central London parks
    • Learn in The Regent's Park
    • Learn in Greenwich Park
    • Learn in Richmond Park
    • Learn in Bushy Park
    • Learn in Brompton Cemetery
    • Learn Online
    • Urban Tree Festival School Challenge
    • Green Futures project
  • Get involved
    • Careers
    • The Royal Parks Horticultural Apprenticeship Scheme
    • Volunteer with us
    • Mission Invertebrate
    • The Royal Parks in World War I
    • Play in the Park
    • Photo competition winners
    • Green Flag Awards
  • About us
    • Who we are
    • What we do
    • Procurement
    • Partner organisations
    • Publications
    • Friends of The Royal Parks
    • Contact us
    • Modern Slavery Statement
  • Donate
searchSearch
  • The Royal Parks
  • Parks
    arrow_drop_down
    • Hyde Park
    • Kensington Gardens
    • Richmond Park
    • Bushy Park
    • St James's Park
    • The Green Park
    • The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
    • Greenwich Park
    • Brompton Cemetery
    • Victoria Tower Gardens
  • What's on
    arrow_drop_down
    • Upcoming events
    • Latest news
    • Blog
    • The Royal Parks Podcast
    • Self guided walks
    • Learn Online
    • The Great Exhibition Virtual Tour
    • Sign up to our Newsletter
    • Event Feedback
  • Managing the parks
    arrow_drop_down
    • Park management plans
    • Park regulations, legislation and policies
    • Park strategies
    • Holding events in the Royal Parks
    • Cycling in the Royal Parks
    • Conservation and improvement projects
    • Consultations
    • Licences and permits
    • Policing in the Royal Parks
    • Visitor satisfaction research
  • Support
    arrow_drop_down
    • Make a donation
    • Give a significant gift 
    • Leave a gift in your Will 
    • Run, cycle or swim for the parks
    • Hire The LookOut, Hyde Park
    • Become a partner
    • Corporate volunteering
    • Tributes in your local park
  • Learn
    arrow_drop_down
    • Learn in our Central London parks
    • Learn in The Regent's Park
    • Learn in Greenwich Park
    • Learn in Richmond Park
    • Learn in Bushy Park
    • Learn in Brompton Cemetery
    • Learn Online
    • Urban Tree Festival School Challenge
    • Green Futures project
  • Get involved
    arrow_drop_down
    • Careers
    • The Royal Parks Horticultural Apprenticeship Scheme
    • Volunteer with us
    • Mission Invertebrate
    • The Royal Parks in World War I
    • Play in the Park
    • Photo competition winners
    • Green Flag Awards
  • About us
    arrow_drop_down
    • Who we are
    • What we do
    • Procurement
    • Partner organisations
    • Publications
    • Friends of The Royal Parks
    • Contact us
    • Modern Slavery Statement
  •  
  • Donate
    • Home
    • Media Centre
    • Careers
    • Shop
    • Contact us
  • What's on
  • 
  • Blog
  • 

Celebrating our volunteers

Published Friday 7 June 2019

As Volunteer Week (1-7 June) draws to a close we take a look at the important role our own volunteers play in London's eight Royal Parks.

Volunteering for a park typically conjures up images of planting flowers or litter picking but at the Royal Parks you could be involved in anything from hedgehog research and mapping anthills, to educating visitors on deer birthing season.

Over 2,000 volunteers work across the Royal Parks, either directly for us or through our partner organisations. Between them they dedicate over 120,000 hours, a commercial value worth over £2million.

Volunteering opportunities can range from long term projects such as growing fruits and vegetables at our allotments, to short term or one off projects like wildlife surveys.

Tess Pettinger, Volunteer and Programmes Manager said: “Volunteers are the lifeblood of our parks and without them we would have to limit some popular spaces such as our demonstration allotments. We are really grateful for our volunteers' support and we try our utmost to ensure they get the most out of their experience, learn new skills and feel valued."

We spoke to a few of our volunteers about what they do and why they love it.


Duncan MacCallum lives in East Sheen and has been a Volunteer Ranger in Richmond Park since April 2019.

"I first started volunteering in 2018, as part of a Mission: Invertebrate citizen science project which involved measuring the sizes of the yellow meadow ant hills in Richmond Park. I’ve been a Volunteer Ranger for just over two months now and I’m really enjoying it. Our role is to engage with the public to ensure they get the most out of their visit and offer tips on how they can protect the park.

"Recently we met a father and his young daughter looking from afar at a herd of female red deer. We explained that deer had entered birthing season. The little girl revealed that it would be her birthday on the 1 June, and I told her it was very likely that a baby deer would be born on that day too. When she realised she might share her birthday with a baby deer, the smile on her face and that on her father's was priceless. Moments like that really are special."


Soyoung lives in South West London and has been volunteering for Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens in Regent's Park since May of this year.

"The Queen Mary’s Rose Garden, which house London’s largest collection of roses, has always been my number one place to work, as I’ve had many amazing memories there with my friends and family from Korea.

"My general duties include planting flower beds, weeding and general maintenance. I really enjoy learning practical gardening skills and working alongside professional gardeners. I also find it therapeutic and would recommend it to others as a way to improve your physical and mental health."


Peter Charalambous from Marylebone, volunteers at the Community Wildlife Gardens and the allotment in Kensington Gardens.

"In Regent’s Park I help out at the Community Wildlife Gardens, planting, wedding and pruning and in Kensington Gardens’ Allotment Garden I help grow an array of vegetables and fruits from scratch. I’ve also recently participated in a Mission: Invertebrate project surveying hawthorn trees in Richmond Park

"I’ve been a volunteer since my retirement in 2018, and aside from learning so much about gardening I really appreciate the social aspect, meeting people from all different backgrounds and being invited to the different social events that are held for volunteers.

"I’ve lived in Marylebone for the past 40 years, so although I love all the Royal Parks - The Regent’s Park is definitely my favourite. I especially love all the different sporting activities it offers such as tennis courts, sports pitches and the boating lake of course."



Share:
  • Hyde Park
  • Richmond Park
  • The Regent's Park
  • Kensington Gardens
  • Greenwich Park

Help us improve our website by providing your feedback.

Website user survey

close

search
Explore the Royal Parks
  • Hyde Park
  • Kensington Gardens
  • Richmond Park
  • Bushy Park
  • St James's Park
  • The Green Park
  • The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
  • Greenwich Park
  • Greenwich Park Revealed - Park Restoration Project
  • Brompton Cemetery
  • Victoria Tower Gardens
  • Grosvenor Square Garden
Support the parks
  • Make a donation
  • Give a significant gift 
  • Leave a gift in your Will 
  • Run, cycle or swim for the parks
  • Hire The LookOut, Hyde Park
  • Become a partner
  • Corporate volunteering
  • Tributes in your local park
Media Centre
  • Press Releases
  • Royal Parks News Permit
  • Filming and photography
  • Royal Parks Image Library
  • News Archive
  • Trooping the Colour media accreditation
About us
  • Who we are
  • What we do
  • Procurement
  • Partner organisations
  • Publications
  • Friends of The Royal Parks
  • Contact us
  • Modern Slavery Statement
Connect with us
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Watch our videos on YouTube
The Royal Parks

The Royal Parks is a registered charity (No. 1172042) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales no. 10016100 (VAT No. 261 4640 19)

Copyright © The Royal Parks 2016-2022 | Head Office: The Old Police House, Hyde Park, London. W2 2UHTerms & Conditions | Privacy Policy

close

Subscribe to our eNewsletter today

Be the first to hear our latest news and read about upcoming events, learning and volunteering opportunities, fundraising and park improvement projects when you sign up to our mailing list.

Aerial view of Regents