Museum Gardening Volunteers – The Judges’ Lodgings Museum

Museum Gardening Volunteers – The Judges’ Lodgings Museum

The Judges’ Lodgings, Lancaster is looking to recruit volunteers to be part of the gardening team that will help maintain the garden to a high standard for our visitors.

The museum is open to the public from the end of March to start of November Thursday to Sunday. Volunteering in the garden will be throughout the year at set times arranged with the museum manager.

Located at the back of the Lodgings the garden has been planted to a historic planting scheme and although small this makes it a lovely location which will be used for visitor recreation and occasional activities.

The Judges’ Lodgings is Lancaster’s oldest town house and a Grade 1 listed building. It takes its name from the Lancaster Castle Assize Court Judges who lodged here between 1775 and 1975, while they were trying cases.

Thomas Covell, Mayor of Lancaster and Keeper of Lancaster Castle, lived here and is best remembered for locking up the Pendle Witches during the Lancashire Witch Trails.

Judges’ Lodgings was reconstructed to its present form in 1675 and now contains a collection of Gillow furniture and the Museum of Childhood.

Please speak to a member of staff before applying – 01524 581241 or email us at judgeslodgings@lancashire.gov.uk

Overview of Service:

Lancashire County Council Museums Service provides public access to, and engagement with 6 historic buildings including Lancaster Castle, Judges Lodgings, Clitheroe Castle, Gawthorpe Hall, Helmshore Mills Textile Museum and Queen Street Mill. Our goal is providing high quality experiences for all, based on our key values which are: Supportive, Innovative, Respectful and Collaborative.

Overview of the role:

Lancashire County Council Museum Service are looking for Gardening Volunteers to help in the wider grounds. The Gardening Volunteers will assist staff to look after the grounds and/or gardens and give advice and assistance to visitors if required.

This role offers you an opportunity to helping the museum maintain the high level of care of the museum grounds, and you will get to meet new people, learn a range of new skills, and help us bring our sites to life for a wide range of audiences

Our garden volunteers should have a keen interest in the planting used as well as the history of Judges’ Lodgings so that they are confident in sharing their knowledge when asked.

Tasks:

All tasks are carried out to assist, and under the supervision of a member of staff:

As a Gardening Volunteer you could be:

• Assisting with any gardening or landscaping in the vicinity of the site including planting and pruning.
• Clearing and maintaining pathways, entrances, carparks (if applicable), visitor routes etc.
• Welcoming, Meet & Greet, Wayfinding, Signposting visitors.
• Assisting visitors with where to park (if applicable)
• Meet and greet for arriving coach parties (if applicable)
• Litter picking around the grounds, particularly in the immediate vicinity of the museum and main visitor routes.
• Providing a general introduction to the site and ensuring visitors know where the main parts of the site are.
• Help to brighten up a visitor’s day.

Required Qualities:

You don’t need any previous experience of qualifications to volunteer, just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn!

We also ask that you:

• Can commit to regular attendance at agree times
• Are a good communicator
• Have patience and understanding
• Are friendly and approachable
• Are reliable and committed
• Comfortable talking to people from many backgrounds and walks of life
• Complete minimum level training and commit to further training relevant to the role
• Must have lived in the UK for 3+ years