Rosemoor

We are currently looking for a volunteer to help collect plant specimens in RHS Garden Rosemoor and in so doing, enhance the herbarium collections held at RHS Garden Wisley.

The RHS Herbarium located at RHS Garden Wisley is one of only a very few in the world to specialise in preserved cultivated plants, currently holding c.97,000 dried specimens. It is a unique record of the development of ornamental plants and as such a vital resource for research. The herbarium is within the RHS’ Science and Collections directorate, and its plant-collecting programme feeds directly into Nature Target 2 (Biodiversity Positive) of the RHS Sustainability Strategy. We aim to have a representative specimen of every kind of cultivated ornamental in the UK and hope to achieve this ambitious target with your help.

The role will mainly involve collecting, photographing, describing and pressing plant specimens, these activities will take place inside and outside in the garden. Use of the RHS Colour Chart is expected to match the shade of individual plant parts to a registered colour code.

We are looking for a volunteer to help us on Wednesday every other week from 10am to 4pm (with one hour for lunch). Full guidance will be provided to carry out above-mentioned tasks.

Please read the Herbarium Plant Collecting Volunteer Role Description for more details.

To apply, complete an online application form, even if you have volunteered with us before. Please ensure that you demonstrate how you meet the suitability qualities listed in the role description in your application. Please note this link will take you through to our Volunteer Portal where, if you have not already done so, you will be prompted to create a log in before progressing to the application form. If you have, any questions please email Will Merrison (he/him) at willmerrison@rhs.org.uk (Herbarium Plant Collector).

All applications should be received by Midnight (GMT) on 26/04/2026.

Interviews (on the following dates) will be conducted via Teams, and the Herbarium team will give in person training: