Lawn Maintenance Volunteer

Details

Our garden volunteers support the provision of a professional gardening and grounds maintenance service for Springhill Hospice and its local sites. This role will assist in the day-to-day upkeep of our award-winning gardens, specifically keeping our lawns tidy and well-maintained. The hospice working environment will, at times, be physically and emotionally demanding but also very rewarding.

General responsibilities and duties:

• Mow lawns every other week at the designated height and direction, using either the Stihl battery pedestrian mower or small ride-on mower.
• Define and maintain lawn / ornamental bed edges with /Stihl edger or half-moon iron and long-handled shears.
• Using a battery Stihl strimmer, trim long grass around edges of lawns and obstacles such as lamp posts, kerb edges etc before each mowing session.
• Help cut down meadows with Stihl battery brush-cutter in Autumn.
• Regularly rake off debris and leaves to prevent grass die-back on lawns and meadows.
• Annually, level off lawn hollows, make turf repairs and reseed bare patches.
• Annually, treat lawns for moss and weeds where necessary and resources allow.
• Inspect regularly for damage, disease and pests; moles are a significant issue.
• Use PPE and equipment safely, keeping tools clean and reporting any faults.
• Support the promotion of the gardens through our guided tours, corporate volunteer days and Britain in Bloom competitions.
• Support initiatives to generate income, i.e., plant sales, memorial schemes and events.
• Awareness of safeguarding responsibilities for our vulnerable adults.
• Participate in meetings and training deemed necessary for role.
• Read, understand and comply with all Hospice policies and procedures, applying the principles appropriate to the role.

Desired skills and experience

• Physically fit and willing to undertake grounds maintenance activities in all weathers
• A strong interest in, and enjoyment of, gardening and volunteering in our care sector
• Good lawn maintenance knowledge and willing to learn more
• Friendly disposition, good interpersonal and communication skills
• Emotional maturity, sensitivity and patience, and the ability to work with a range of people collaboratively
• The capacity to use your initiative to work safely and independently
• Good organisational skills
• Competent digital skills, as mobiles and emails are used for communicating within the team
• Full, clean driving license in order to operate a ride-on mower safely.

Essential – Domestic or voluntary experience in gardening, particularly in lawn maintenance and using powered tools (petrol/battery).

Desirable – Worked in a ground’s maintenance/caretaking or related disciplines.

Springhill Hospice is an equal opportunity employer and has a No Smoking Policy.

The role is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service/POVA check.  If you require more information on this please refer to www.homeoffice.gov.uk/dbs

Training you will need to complete after enrollment, crucial to this role: