Come and be part of Grozone
There are lots of ways to get involved at Grozone — from volunteering and learning new skills to helping care for the garden, joining our activities or getting involved as a group or business. Whether you can spare a few hours or want to get more involved, we’d love to hear from you.
Volunteering
Get outdoors and get involved
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kate at: [email protected]
Our volunteer sessions offer something for everyone. You can learn new skills, or share your existing skills with others. You can get involved in growing and harvesting or building and maintenance. You decide what activities you'd like to get involved in and how long you'd like to spend in the garden.
Volunteer Feedback
Mark Goulborn
Mark joined us at Grozone when his school, Petty Pool College came with a group of students on work experience back in 2015.
Since then Mark has been volunteering for us on a weekly basis, helping do all sorts of gardening tasks from chopping wood to planting and weeding. He has also achieved one of his goals of moving into his own place with some friends. It means he can walk down to Grozone by himself to come and help out. Mark is incredibly welcoming and always cheers up anyone who spends time with him. He especially enjoys it when we have a music session and he can get stuck in with his guitar or the drums.
Roy Pearce
Roy was encouraged by his daughter to come and get stuck in at Grozone after his wife of 46 years, Carole, passed away and he was left feeling lost for what to do with his time. Since day one, Roy has been an absolute asset to Grozone, using his wide range of practical skills to keep things up and running. He always makes sure people are welcome and can get involved with the tasks for the day and best of all dishing out his sunny smile to brighten our days. Roy has met a new group of friends that he didn’t have before attending Grozone and this has led to working with other local volunteering projects, trying new things (e.g. hummus, wild swimming and transition towns) and lots of social events too!
“I found the garden a lifeline”
Shelagh and Vicky
This amazing duo have been coming to Grozone since 2019. They are fantastic at getting stuck in with all sorts and getting the job done. They are expert weeders- no flower bed is too over grown for these two! We are delighted that Vicky can join in with food growing in our accessible raised beds and using long handled tools – if we haven’t got the kit we make it work anyway – drain pipe to plant bulbs when you cant reach the ground anyone?! Shelagh has been central to gathering Grozone volunteers together in a place of joy, including organising running a gorgeous Jubilee Party and a Summer Sports day! We are so happy they both came to join us at Grozone.
“For us, its about our wellbeing. We come to make new friends and learn skills”
Unfortunately, Grozone doesn't have the capacity to work one to one with volunteers - if you need one to one support please bring a friend, family member or carer who can work closely with you. Our staff are kind, friendly and happy to listen, however we're not trained counselors or therapists - so if you need that level of support, you may have to look for somewhere to attend in conjunction with your volunteering at Grozone to receive the care you need. Grozone has very little electricity as we are focused on staying with the great outdoors, and as such we often have a fire burning for boiling water, keeping us warm, and cooking food. If you have a phobias or behavioural triggers, please be sure to let one of our members of staff know.
Volunteer Leaders
Ever thought of becoming a Volunteer Leader?
We are looking for suitable people (aged over 18) to help run some of our sessions and support our regular volunteers - some of whom have physical or learning disabilities or mild anxiety and depression. If your ambition is to work in the environmental sector, volunteering at Grozone could provide some valuable experience and be a great addition to your CV.
Ideally you'll be...
- Able to commute to Grozone
- Friendly, calm and non-judgemental
- Willing to be trained in how to run activities at Grozone
- Willing to join in with, and sometimes lead, a range of tasks
- Willing & able to work outside in all weathers
- Able to closely follow instructions from Grozone Staff
- Have or be willing to have DBS check- Have or willing to undertake First Aid Training
- Able to dedicate at least 1day a week (we can be flexible)
- A good timekeeper
- Knoweledgeable or experienced in horticulture (not essential)
We can offer...
- A chance to develop practical conservation and gardening skills
- Experience of working with and managing volunteers
- Experience of working with people with learning difficulties and mental health problems
- Opportunities to plan and run small scale projects
- A chance to be part of a flagship environmental project and
- Meeting people and making friends
- Opportunities to enhance your CV- First-hand experience of the benefits of working outdoors on health and wellbeing
- An easily accessible workplace with parking onsite and Northwich railway station nearby.
If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer Leader or for more information please contact:
Pete Attwood on 01606 723160 or 07841 339983 or [email protected]
There will be a short, informal interview to see if you are suited to the role and we recommend that you come and spend time at Grozone as a volunteer first, to experience Grozone first hand. We look forward to seeing you!
Toddler Sessions at Grozone
Come along to Grozone for outdoor play, exploring, learning and lots of fun! Our toddler sessions run every Monday, from 10am to 1.30pm (except bank holidays). There’s no need to book — just drop in.
Please check our Events page prior to attending to confirm a session is taking place.
Our sessions are based around the Forest School ethos, giving children the opportunity to spend regular time outdoors, follow their own interests and develop a close connection with nature. Children can enjoy outdoor play, campfire cooking, exploring, socialising and activities that help develop fine and gross motor skills, confidence and resilience.
We go outside in all weathers, so please come dressed appropriately and be prepared for your child to get muddy!
Exploring Grozone
There is lots for children to discover, including our mud kitchen, platform, small yurt, wooden tent, music zone, water play, swings, labyrinth, small climbing wall, nature table, tractor, books, hammocks, tunnels and den-making areas.
We regularly add new things to the children’s area, so there is always something different to explore. If there’s something you think we should have, let us know!
Cost
To help cover the costs of running the sessions, we charge £3 per child, with a reduced rate of £1 for each additional sibling.
Our toddler sessions are open to all under-fives. Parents and/or carers are responsible for their children at all times and must follow the safety instructions given on arrival.
Schools & Corporate
Grozone is a great place for schools, colleges and community groups to get outdoors, get involved and learn something new. We can offer practical activities around growing, wildlife, nature and looking after the garden, with opportunities to get stuck in and make a difference.
We also welcome corporate groups looking for a different kind of team day. Spending time together outdoors, working on practical projects and helping to improve the garden is a great way to support Grozone while getting away from the usual workplace.
Every visit helps us keep developing this special community space, and we’re always happy to talk about what we can offer and how we can make a visit work for your group.
Supporting Grozone
We’re also always looking for local businesses and organisations who would like to support Grozone through sponsorship. Whether it’s sponsoring a particular area of the garden, helping us with equipment and materials, or supporting our activities, your contribution can make a real difference.
If you’re interested in bringing a group to Grozone or becoming a sponsor, please get in touch.