Our volunteers are the heart and soul of what we do. Their dedication and hard work have shaped this special place, creating a haven for people and nature alike.

By joining us as a volunteer, you’ll have the chance to make a lasting difference – nurturing the Orchard and Nature Reserve, supporting the community, and connecting with the natural world.

Whether you’d like to help care for our beautiful space, meet like-minded people, boost your physical and mental wellbeing, or develop new skills, there’s something for everyone here.

Our volunteers are a warm and welcoming group, and we believe in making this experience accessible to all. We are very easygoing, no commitment is expected, even just offering one hour once a month would be wonderful.

There are many ways to volunteer with us!

Planting, pruning, protecting and nurturing trees and plants, growing vegetables, composting, mulching, clearing paths in the nature reserve, species surveying and Tree ID.
Plus running community events, cooking and serving refreshments in the Core building and various interesting projects.

We have regular work parties outdoors but there are many other ways to volunteer with us in the Core, at home and in the community. See various roles below.

Weekly Volunteer Work Parties

Tuesday  & Sundays 10am - 12 

• Help us look after our Orchard, Nature Reserve and communal veg garden.
• Meet at the shed at 10am.
• No experience is needed, work at your own pace and choose from a varied list of things to do. 
• No commitment is expected, even once a month would be wonderful.
• We provide the tools and gloves and finish off with tea plus biscuits & cake and often a cooked meal. All free for volunteers.
• If it's your first time, feel free to just drop in and see what’s involved, no need to book, but you will need to sign up going forward.
• We welcome DofE volunteers , families with children & dogs too!

Questions? Email info@stivesorchard.com or 07585777110 (Elise) or pop along to one of our work parties for a chat.
Feel free to drop in and join in for the first time to have a go and see how you like it or click here to sign up and we'll email you full details on how to find us, what to expect etc. 

Volunteer Roles:

• Community Orchard Stewards.
  Nurturing our edible forest garden & orchard, planting, composting, pruning, propogating.
• Nature Reserve Rangers. 
  Looking after 28 acres of woodlands,moorland, habitats, meadows and paths.
• Veggie Cultivators.
  Growing & harvesting vegetables, plant & soil care in our communal veggie gardens.  Preparing beds, organic pest and weed control, seasonal planting, watering.
• Wildlife Recorders / Surveyors.
  Surveying, identification and recording of Birds, Reptiles, Mammals & Invertebrates.
• Tree & Plant ID Team.
  Help map and identify our trees using what3words app and photos.

• Composting Champions
  Collect food waste from cafes, businesses, household collection points using our Electric bike. 

• Seed Savers / Seed Swap Co-ordinator
  Saving seed from wildflowers and vegetables. Maintaining our seed swap box.

• Apple Press / Cider Makers / Preservers.
  Using the orchard's surplus fruit to make apple juice, cider & preserves.
• Refreshments Co-ordinators.
  Organises tea breaks for volunteers, ensuring everyone stays refreshed.
• Publicity / Social Media officers.
  To write articles for the newspaper, posts for social media and blogs for the website.
• Core Cafe Cooks.
  Cook food for orchard events & workshops using home grown produce from the orchard.
• Core Cafe Host.
  Greeting people who arrive at workshops in the Core, providing everyone with refreshments, promoting volunteering opportunities.
• Core Cafe Cleaners.
  Help to tidy and clean the Core.
• Toolsmiths.
  Help maintain and repair our tools, keeping them sharp, functional, and well-organized.
• Repair cafe Fix-it Specialists / Master Tinkerers.
  Handymen, Carpenters, repairers of clothing, electrical appliances, bicycles, furniture.
• Events Co-ordinators & Organisers
  We hold regular events in the orchard, Wassail, Apple Day, Summer & Solstice etc. The Events co-ordinators and organisers would help organise and manage these events.
• See extended list of roles

Benefits of Volunteering!

• Give back to your Community!
  Be part of a hands-on team that’s actively improving our local green spaces for everyone to enjoy and involving them in events and activities.  “We’re not just growing trees,” one volunteer said. “We’re growing community.”
• Support Nature and Wildlife!
  Help us create a safe haven for local wildlife and support biodiversity in our community.
• Get Fit & Feel Great!
  Outdoor work keeps you fit & healthy while being surrounded by nature’s beauty.
• Boost your Mental Wellbeing!
  Volunteering can reduce stress, ease anxiety, and combat feelings of depression. It’s a chance to develop social skills, learn new things, and find a real sense of purpose
• Free Fruit & Veg
  We grow plenty of fruit & veg that we share out with volunteers & community.
• Learn New Skills!
  Increase your knowledge of tree care, tree id, pruning, propogating, vegetable growing, composting, permaculture, seed saving, cooking and more.
• Build Connections & Friendships!
  Meet like-minded people and form friendships with others who care about the environment and their community.
• Enhance Your CV with Valuable Experience.
  We can provide references and training certificates to recognize your efforts—this experience can really stand out to future employers!
• Be Part of Something Bigger!
  Join us in making a lasting impact on our environment and community. Your time and skills will help make a real difference, and we can’t wait to welcome you to the team!

• Ready to Make a Difference?
  Join us in creating a lasting impact on our environment and community. We can’t wait to welcome you to the team!

We also welcome  'Corporate or Team Volunteering' groups.

See more reasons to volunteer in this interesting article which explains why volunteering is as important as paid jobs.