Volunteering
Volunteers
Fruit Harvest
In 2020 Brogdale Collections charity took on responsibility for almost 8 hectares of mixed fruit orchards that were due to be destroyed. The loss of these rare and heritage varieties would have been a substantial loss to the charity as we rely on the availability and variety of fruit to fulfil our education objectives.
To offset the maintenance costs associated with their management we rely on volunteers to help us bring in the harvest. We sell fruit locally and on site, we provide fruit for juice and cider and, when we can, we support local schools and foodbanks.
We start picking cherries in July, then move onto plums in August. From September we pick apples, pears and quince until November. We generally pick on Tuesday to Friday, weather dependant.
Our volunteers get to sample some of the most interesting and varied fruit varieties in the world!
We would love to hear from you if you would like to help us with the fruit harvest, please contact us.
Volunteers
Garden for Wildlife
The Garden for wildlife has been created to encourage wildlife to visit Brogdale. With a variety of different habitats, bug hotels and food all made to create a great environment for wildlife visitors.
The garden has also been designed to be used as an outdoor classroom, learning environment and educational resource for schools, children and visitors young & old to learn about and discover plants, habitat and wildlife. Visitors can see the different habitats, take time to investigate the different sights, sounds and smells of the garden. They can also learn more by following the special information boards throughout the garden.
We need volunteers to help us build up and maintain the garden as a haven for wildlife and insects. If you have a love of gardening and nature and a few spare hours every week then we would love to hear from you.
Duties will involve general gardening and maintenance of the Garden for Wildlife including:
Weeding
Pruning
Planting
Pond maintenance
General gardening
Composting and more.
We would love to hear from you if you would like to help us with the Garden for Wildlife, please contact us.
Volunteers
Guides, Education & Events
Guides – Learn about the history and relevance of the National Fruit Collection by becoming a guide, after training you can become a day duty guide taking out members of the public around the orchards or guide on the Event Days which are held throughout the season.
Education – Assist the Education Officer in educating and enthusing young people, we run curriculum based education days and we are always seeking volunteers to help deliver these. Another pair of hands can make everyone’s day so much more enjoyable. ‘Don’t Panic’ – we would not expect you to teach the children or take responsibility for them! The main duties would be helping to prepare and carry equipment, setting up crafts and generally helping the education officer who will be leading the group.
Events – These days are very important ‘Fundraising’ for Brogdale, we need help in the days leading up to the event in setting up signage, security barriers, cleaning out and setting up the ‘Barn’, dressing marquees, setting up crafts for children and marking out car parks. Help is also needed on the actual days collecting ’Gift Aid’, meeting/greeting visitors, information desk, helping in the shop and working on the cash desks. Help is then needed after the event to clear up the site.
The National Fruit Collection is one of the largest fruit collections in the world and is located at Brogdale Farm, near Faversham, Kent.
© 2022 Brogdale Collections.