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GARDENER'S WORLD: Volunteers are needed to help maintain the glorious gardens at Hardy's Cottage

VOLUNTEERS are being invited to come forward to maintain the glory of the garden at Hardy's Cottage.

The National Trust is looking for people to get involved with a range of duties at its Dorset properties including the birthplace of novelist Thomas Hardy in Higher Bockhampton.

Caps Mountford, gardener at Hardy's Cottage, would welcome one or more people to work one day a week to help maintain the garden.

She said: "It's very rewarding work. It's such a lovely garden to be in. There are always things to do, even in the winter, and when the garden is open to the public from Easter our volunteers can also help show visitors round and talk to them.

"It's a pretty flower garden with old varieties of roses and hollyhocks and so on typical of the cottage garden in 1840 when Thomas Hardy was born.

"One of the things we'd like to do is enhance the productive side of vegetables and fruit. There is an orchard of apples, pears and damsons and we'd like to develop that a bit more."

Mrs Mountford said volunteers would also help with propagating plants to sell, along with fruit and vegetables, to the public.

She said: "They don't have to be expert gardeners, just willing to learn about gardening and about Thomas Hardy, because visitors like to talk about him."

Current gardener Caps Mountford

Mrs Mountford and the two volunteers who already help in the garden have just finished planting out wild flowers in the orchard.

She said: "You'd never get bored - there's always something to do. And we meet people from America and all over who come to the cottage.

"It's quite something to be able to garden here where Thomas Hardy lived."

The National Trust is looking for helpers in roles as diverse as house stewards, buggy and trailer drivers, education co-ordinators, researchers, archaeologists, catering and retail assistants, reception staff, administrators, surveyors, events assistants, raffle ticket sellers, wardens or tour guides.

Among volunteers needed are a steward-guide for Hardy's Monument, a shop assistant and countryside wardens for the West Dorset countryside and a countryside and conservation assistant, a buggy driver, a room steward and a gardener at the Kingston Lacy estate.

Cloud's Hill needs a tour guide while a range of volunteers are needed at Corfe Castle and Brownsea Island.

Wessex learning and interpretation officer George Hockin said: "Volunteers are the life blood of our charity.

"Without them, we would have to close houses, we would be able to welcome fewer school groups and we wouldn't be able to raise the vital money needed to conserve our properties.

"As well as knowing they are making a real difference, volunteers also gain from the experience in a variety of ways - through developing skills, meeting people and social-ising, building on hobbies, interests and active lifestyles or developing careers."

Anyone wishing to find out more about volunteering should contact their local property or Val Perry at Wessex regional office on 01985 843633. Alternatively, visit the trust's website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk for a full list of role profiles and opportunities.

12:51pm Wednesday 23rd January 2008

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