Parks and Allotments Team

Roving Rangers work alongside our Park Rangers supporting their day‑to‑day tasks across multiple parks and countryside sites. Starting each day at the Heaton depot, volunteers travel with the team to wherever support is needed, gaining varied experience in practical conservation, grounds maintenance, and general park operations.

This role offers valuable hands‑on environmental experience, with opportunities to develop new skills - including optional power‑tool training - and is suited to volunteers who can commit to a full day and enjoy working in different outdoor environments. 

Conservation Volunteers support practical environmental work that protects and enhances natural habitats across nature reserves, Denes, woodlands, and riversides. Activities include coppicing, scrub clearance, hedge laying, footpath maintenance, invasive species removal, tree and wildflower planting, site clean‑ups, and creating wildlife habitats such as ponds, meadows, and nest boxes.

Volunteers work as part of a team under the guidance of a ranger or session leader, with all tasks adapted to different abilities and no prior experience required - just enthusiasm for being outdoors and a willingness to learn. 

Community Gardening Volunteers take part in hands‑on gardening sessions focused on growing and caring for the flowerbeds, orchards, and wildflower meadows in our parks. Typical tasks include planting seasonal displays, mulching, pruning, weeding, watering, and maintaining healthy soil, while also learning about fruit‑tree care, meadow management, and wildlife‑friendly gardening.

This role is ideal for adults who enjoy being outdoors and want to develop their gardening skills while helping create vibrant, biodiverse green spaces for the community.

These sessions happen every week in Exhibition Park on Monday mornings and every other week in Leazes Park on a Wednesday morning.

Parks Volunteers help care for and maintain our parks by supporting a wide range of gardening and grounds‑care tasks. This includes planting and tending flowerbeds, maintaining borders, caring for orchards and meadows, controlling weeds, watering, and contributing to general upkeep to keep parks attractive and welcoming for visitors. Volunteers work alongside rangers or session leaders, following safety guidance and using tools correctly.

No experience is needed - just an interest in outdoor work and being part of a supportive team

Help keep your park clean and beautiful! Litter picking is a great way to give back to your community while also getting out to enjoying nature and going for a walk

We provide all the necessary equipment, including litter pickers, Hi-Vis vests, gloves, and bin bags. You can choose to work independently or join a group effort. Together, we can make a difference!

We run regular litter picks in our parks, including a social litter pick in Leazes Park every fortnight!