Volunteering
Garden Volunteers
Much of the behind the scenes work which keeps Paxton House Gardens blooming is done by our team of garden volunteers. Volunteers pool skills and give up whatever time they choose, from as much as two days a week to as little as one day a month. The team works under the expert guidance of our head gardener to enjoy some hands on horticulture.
Apart from working together in the magnificent herbaceous borders, garden volunteers interact with visitors and help to propagate plants to sell at the Gift Shop. Profits help fund plants, bulbs and equipment for the new season, and give visitors a chance to buy healthy unusual specimen plants ideally suited to local conditions.
You need to be physically fit and prepared to commit to at least one day a month for a minimum of 2 hours’ work.
Boat Volunteers
Over the years, the boat trips we run every summer from Paxton House down the mighty river Tweed have proved immensely popular with visitors. The river Tweed is rich in a history of its own and the view of Paxton House from the water is one not to be missed. We could not run these trips with our team of knowledgeable volunteers who guide the boats and lead the tours.
SKIPPERS
You need to have experience handling an outboard motor and an inflatable dinghy and be physically fit. An interest in history and the locality will help and your natural communication skills will be put to good use. You will need to commit at least one day a month for a minimum of 4 hours’ work including weekends and Bank Holidays.
RIVERSIDE SUPPORT
You need to be prepared to manage visitors on the bank, help to land passengers and moor the boat but do not need any experience handling boats. An interest in history and the locality will help and your natural communication skills will be put to good use. You will need to commit at least one day a month for a minimum of 4 hours’ work including weekends and Bank Holidays.
Waterwheel Volunteers
We have industrial archaeology at Paxton House too. The restoration of the Georgian waterwheel which drove a pump to raise water for the residents of the house in the 1760s was largely achieved thanks to many hours of work by a team of keen volunteers. Now the waterwheel is up and working, volunteers take the opportunity of running demonstrations and sharing the excitement of watching one of Scotland’s earliest domestic water systems in action with visitors.
You need to be prepared to spend time outdoors and commit to a regular rota of demonstrations which normally take place between 1.00 pm and 2.00pm in the main summer season, including weekends and Bank holidays.
Archive Volunteers
Paxton House and the Home family have an extensive archive of papers, books, maps and plans. Our team of archive volunteers help to catalogue, identify and record documents as well as helping with research for interpretation and special exhibitions, like 2022’s Parallel Lives, Worlds Apart.
You need to have an interest in history and a flair for attention to detail. You will need to commit to at least one day a month for a minimum of 4 hours’ work.
Welcome Volunteers
The first person most visitors meet at Paxton House is one of our welcome attendants. Visitors will be able to find out everything they need to know from you, including what to see in the house to where to find the café or the dog poo bins. Welcome attendants are a mine of information and always willing to help.
You will be responsible for that vital first impression and for giving every visitor a chance to enjoy Paxton House’s full potential. You will need to be a good communicator, unflappable, naturally enthusiastic and happy to learn. You will need to commit at least one day a month for a minimum of 4 hours’ work including weekends and Bank Holidays.