School Work Experience (ages 14-18) and Youth Volunteering with New Shoots
Please Note: read these instructions carefully, then scroll down to make sure you click through to the correct programme you wish to apply for - if the garden you wish to apply for is not listed on this page then applications are now closed.
Thank you for your interest in either school work experience or youth volunteering with New Shoots
To apply for an opportunity, please click 'Continue' on the correct garden tile below first and then 'Fill in an application' button on the right hand side. Our application process starts with asking you to create a profile on our work experience/volunteer management software called 'My Impact'. If you already use My Impact for another organisation or are a current RHS Volunteer looking to apply for a different opportunity, please use your existing username and password to log in.
If you are under the age of 16 you must get the permission of your parent/guardian to complete this application.
If you have any questions before, or during, applying please contact us on newshoots@rhs.org.uk
We now accepting applications for school/college work experience placements available Monday to Friday at RHS Garden Wisley for Spring/Summer 2025. Please note the following excluded dates:
- 18th - 22nd May 2026 No available placements
RHS Garden Wisley is the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society located just off of Junction 10 of the M25 between the A3 and Woking in Surrey. We offer work experience opportunities of one week, subject to availability, for individuals in years 10/11 and sixth form during Autumn and late Spring/Summer. All placements are a great way for you to explore what it is like in the workplace, gain general skills such as teamwork, and specifically gain and understanding of professional horticulture.
Placements are awarded in two phases as applications are assessed together - the first phase of successful applicants will be advised whether they have been offered a placement at the beginning of January 2026. The Second phase will be offered placements in early March 2026. Any applications after this date will be awarded on a rolling basis subject to availability.
Placements are offered within the following teams:
- Gardens (Curatorial) - work with our skilled horticulturists to develop and maintain our plant collections in a variety of horticultural settings, from our formal gardens through to our glasshouse and specialist collections such as Alpine.
- Plant Centre - work alongside colleagues in the plant shop to create inspiring displays of seasonal plants and horticultural consumables, delivery great customer service to our visitors and care our wide selection of plant species available to buy.
- Science & Collections - rotate between two or three of our teams, including our horticultural library, horticultural information, environmental horticulture and plant health to discover how to curate a living scientific collection and carry out leading horticultural research.
- Education - work with our onsite education team to develop and maintain our learning gardens and deliver engaging workshops about the natural world to school groups or adult learners.
- Visitor experience (for sixth form only) - work alongside our visitor services team to deliver a warm welcome to our garden visitors, developing your customer service skills, as well as finding out about the ways we inspire our visitors with our horticultural heritage.
To apply for a placement you will need to complete the application form and tell us specifically why you would like to undertake work experience with the RHS.
If you are successful, but your chosen team is no longer available (this could be due to spaces already having been filled or dates being incompatible), you may be offered an alternative team.
If you have any questions before, or during, the application process please contact us at newshoots@rhs.org.uk
We are committed to being an inclusive recruiter and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expect all applicants to share this commitment.
To apply, complete an application form at the top of this page, even if you have applied with us before. Please note this link will take you through to our Work Experience Portal where, if you have not already done so, you will be prompted to create a login before progressing to the application form. If you have used this system before, please use your existing login details.
RHS Garden Bridgewater is the newest garden of the Royal Horticultural Society located in Salford, Greater Manchester. We offer work experience opportunities of one week, subject to availability, for individuals in years 10/11 and sixth form. All placements are a great way for you to explore what it is like in the workplace, gain general skills such as teamwork, and specifically gain and understanding of professional horticulture.
Placements are offered within the following teams:
- Gardens (Curatorial) -
- Welcome Building a mix of visitor services, catering and retail.
- Education - with our school visit team
- With our machine engineer
To apply for a placement you will need to complete the application form and tell us specifically why you would like to undertake work experience with the RHS.
For Spring/Summer applications there are two rounds of review - one in early January for applications made before the start of the spring term, and one in early March for all remaining applications (applications after this date will be reviewed on an as need basis). Your application will be scored against other applications received, and you will be notified whether you have been successful or unsuccessful in being awarded a placement.
If you are successful, but your chosen team is no longer available (this could be due to spaces already having been filled or dates being incompatible), you will be offered an alternative team.
If you have any questions before, or during, the application process please contact us at newshoots@rhs.org.uk
We are committed to being an inclusive recruiter and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expect all applicants to share this commitment.
To apply, complete an application form at the top of this page, even if you have applied with us before. Please note this link will take you through to our Work Experience Portal where, if you have not already done so, you will be prompted to create a login before progressing to the application form. If you have used this system before, please use your existing login details.
RHS Garden Rosemoor is the Royal Horticultural Society's garden nestled in the North Devon Torridge Valley. We offer work experience opportunities of one week, subject to availability, for individuals in years 10/11 and sixth form during Autumn and late Spring/Summer. All placements are a great way for you to explore what it is like in the workplace, gain general skills such as teamwork, and specifically gain an understanding of professional horticulture.
Placements are offered within the following teams:
- Gardens (Curatorial)
- Food and beverage (Catering) please let us know on your application if you would like to work in the kitchen, front of house or a mix of both
-School visits (Education)
-Public Programming (Events)
To apply for a placement you will need to complete the application form and tell us specifically why you would like to undertake work experience with the RHS.
Applications are reviewed on a monthly basis. Your application will be scored against other applications received, and you will be notified whether you have been successful or unsuccessful in being awarded a placement.
If you have any questions before, or during, the application process please contact us at newshoots@rhs.org.uk
We are committed to being an inclusive recruiter and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expect all applicants to share this commitment.
To apply, complete an application form at the top of this page, even if you have applied with us before. Please note this link will take you through to our Work Experience Portal where, if you have not already done so, you will be prompted to create a login before progressing to the application form. If you have used this system before, please use your existing login details.
Situated in Harrogate North Yorkshire, RHS Garden Harlow Carr is the most northerly of all the RHS gardens.
We offer work experience opportunities of one week, subject to availability, for individuals in years 10/11 and sixth form. All placements are a great way for you to explore what it is like in the workplace, gain general skills such as teamwork, and specifically gain an understanding of professional horticulture.
Placements are currently offered within the following teams:
- Gardens (Curatorial)
- Library Services and Events planning
- School Visits (Education)
- Retail / Plant Centre / Visitor Services ( from Spring / Summer 2026)
- Catering (from Spring / Summer 2026)
To apply for a placement you will need to complete the application form and tell us specifically why you would like to undertake work experience with the RHS.
We review all the applications that we receive ( for Spring / Summer work experience) in January and then we review again in Early March. If you apply after March, we will be happy to review your application but please be aware that all the opportunities for that year may have been taken by then. Your application will be scored against other applications received, and you will be notified whether you have been successful or unsuccessful in being offered a placement.
If you are successful, but your chosen team is no longer available (this could be due to spaces already having been filled or dates being incompatible), you may be offered an alternative team.
If you have any questions before, or during the application process please contact us at newshoots@rhs.org.uk
We are committed to being an inclusive recruiter and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expect all applicants to share this commitment.
To apply, complete an application form at the top of this page, even if you have applied with us before. Please note this link will take you through to our Work Experience Portal where, if you have not already done so, you will be prompted to create a login before progressing to the application form. If you have used this system before, please use your existing login details.
Do you have a passion for the environment and being outdoors? Alternatively, do you want to gain more experience in gardening, meet like-minded people and develop your skills?
If your answer to either is yes, then why not come and support the UK’s leading gardening charity in the beautiful setting of RHS Garden Rosemoor?
The New Shoots team are offering youth volunteering roles for anyone aged 14-21 as part of their project to increase the number and diversity of people choosing horticultural careers and volunteering. For 2026 this will be one Saturday afternoon per month supporting the Rosemoor New Shoots coordinator to plan, maintain and harvest around the New Shoots allotment, with extra sessions added during the school holidays; before moving to our new Greener Skills Garden in 2027.
The Saturday sessions will be from 2.00 to 4.00pm on 31 January, 28 February, 21 March, 25 April, 30 May, 27 June, 25 July, 22 August, 26 September, 24 October, 28 November and 19 December. If you would like to become a youth volunteer we would like you to attend at least 5 sessions across the year and will not be expected to come every month (unless you want to!)
Please read the RHS Rosemoor Youth Volunteer Role for more details on what the role will include.
Applicants aged 14-21 should feel free to apply - we welcome everyone to apply, whether you have no gardening experience or lots, are confident talking to visitors or want to develop your engagement skills!
We will invite you to a (very) informal interview to decide whether the role is suitable for you before we offer places.
If you are still not sure please get in touch with us at NewShoots@rhs.org.uk for more information
We are committed to being an inclusive recruiter and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expect all volunteers to share this commitment.
To apply, complete an application form at the top of this page, even if you have volunteered with us before. 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 login before progressing to the application form. If you have used this system before, please use your existing login details.
Please make sure you describe how your skills are relevant to the role you are applying for (as specified in the role description) as this is how applicants will be shortlisted.
