Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Volunteer Role Description
Gardens Department
Volunteers can help bring the gardens and their history to life for our visitors by giving
informal garden tours at two of the Shakespeare properties, Hall’s Croft and Anne Hathaway’s
Cottage.
This volunteer opportunity is available Monday - Friday and will be based in either Hall’s Croft
or Anne Hathaway’s Cottage gardens.
Role Title:
Reports to:
Purpose of role:
Gardens Tour Host
Gardens Manager
To deliver informal guided tours of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage or Halls
Croft gardens.
Responsibilities:
To engage visitors by giving an informal guided tour of the gardens (a
maximum of 20 minutes per tour).
To give our visitors a basic outline of the history & development of the
gardens, and to highlight important features within them (full training
will be provided).
To let visitors know how the gardens are maintained.
To have an awareness of Health and Safety.
To inform our visitors about the other Shakespeare Houses & Gardens
and their locations.
To encourage our visitors to fill in customer feedback forms.
Requirements / skills:
 A keen interest in history, gardens and style of gardening.
 Good people skills with the confidence to talk to both small & large groups (maximum
15 people.)
 Ability to keep to an approximate time frame when delivering a tour and to remember
historical/gardening information about the site. Tuition and guidance will be given by
the Gardens Manager.
 An ability to work to a pre-set rota, given by the Gardens Manager.
 Some experience of practical gardening would be an advantage, but is by no means
essential.
 Ability to ensure health and safety guidelines are followed and to be responsible for
your own personal health and safety.
 A reasonable level of fitness is required.
Commitment: A regular commitment would be ideal to assist us in planning. This opportunity
is initially for Monday – Friday, and set days and times will be arranged with the Gardens
Manager.
Length of project or placement:
There will be opportunities to provide tours from April to the end of September.
Administrative points:
 Training sessions in delivery of guided tours will be provided.
 Volunteers to wear own outdoor clothing with sturdy shoes/boots.
 Volunteer badges will be provided
 Smoking is not allowed on site
 Food and drink should only be consumed within set areas at each site.
Authorised by: Nick Jackson
Title:
Gardens Manager
Date:
9 January 2014