Job Title: Gardening & Grounds Volunteer (may lead to paid role)
Location: Holmes Chapel Zoo, Cheshire
Reports to: Site Manager
Job Type: Part-time (flexible shifts between 10am–5pm, including weekends or holidays if preferred)
About Holmes Chapel Zoo (HCZ)
Holmes Chapel Zoo is a small but rapidly growing zoo in the heart of Cheshire. Home to over 100 animals across 40 fascinating species, we’re known for our warm, family-friendly atmosphere and our dedication to conservation, education, and community engagement.
Role Overview
Love being outdoors, getting your hands dirty, and making spaces look beautiful? We're looking for enthusiastic Gardening & Grounds Volunteers to help maintain and enhance our zoo’s green spaces.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys nature, wants to improve horticultural and maintenance skills, and would take pride in keeping our site clean, safe, and blooming. Your work directly benefits our visitors, staff, and even our animals – especially when leaves, branches, and fresh herbs can be turned into enrichment!
Key Responsibilities
- General garden maintenance – weeding, pruning, tidying beds, and trimming shrubs
- Creating and maintaining planters and green displays around the site
- Planting and tending to seeds, bulbs, herbs, and seasonal flowers
- Mowing the grass in public and off-show areas
- Creating and caring for our on-site allotment (used to grow animal-friendly produce)
- Clearing leaf litter in autumn and repurposing for animal enrichment
- Helping to keep pathways clear and safe for visitors
- Supporting occasional site-wide tidy-up or planting days
Useful Skills
- A love for gardening and being outdoors in all seasons
- Basic gardening knowledge (or willingness to learn!)
- Comfortable using hand tools or small power tools (training provided)
- Physically able to carry out outdoor tasks such as lifting, bending, digging
- Able to work safely and tidily, especially around public areas and animals
Who We’re Looking For
- Practical and motivated individuals who enjoy outdoor work
- Green-fingered volunteers (or complete beginners keen to learn)
- Anyone looking to support a conservation site in a hands-on way
- Volunteers aged 16+ (retirees and local hobbyists very welcome!)
What You’ll Gain
- Experience in horticulture and land maintenance
- The chance to contribute to an animal-friendly environment
- Time outdoors and the satisfaction of seeing visible results from your work
- A behind-the-scenes view of a working zoo
- Free zoo entry on volunteering days
- References for future work or education (minimum commitment applies)
- The joy of being part of a passionate, friendly, conservation-driven team
How to Apply
Please get in touch to tell us a bit about yourself, your availability, and why you’d like to volunteer at Holmes Chapel Zoo.
Job Type: Volunteer
Pay: £1.00 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Twemlow Lane., CW4 8DS