Green Health Volunteer Opportunity at the Royal Infirmary

Make a visible difference to the health and wellbeing of our patients, staff, and visitors.

Are you looking for a way to give back to the community while spending time outdoors? We are looking for up to five enthusiastic Garden Volunteers to join our Nature Ranger for a special “seasonal squad” at the RIE estate.

From enhancing our wildflower areas to improving beautiful courtyard spaces, your work will help create a healing environment for everyone at the hospital.

You will be working alongside our Nature Ranger and a small, friendly team, tasks are varied and change with the seasons. They include:

Planting, pruning, and weeding.
Moving and lifting materials to develop new green space features.
Enhancing biodiversity across the RIE grounds (including potential projects supporting the wider hospital campus).

This is a time-limited seasonal opportunity perfect for those who want to volunteer without a long-term weekly commitment. We meet on the last Tuesday afternoon of the month (excluding July).

2026 Dates: 28th April, 26th May, 30th June, 25th August, 29th September
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Who are we looking for?

Reliable and Active: You should be relatively fit and comfortable with physical tasks (lifting/bending).
Nature Lovers: Some gardening knowledge and an interest in plants is preferred, but not essential.
Team Players: You’ll be working in a small group and should be happy to collaborate with others.

What’s in it for you?

Training: Full training provided for every task—no expert skills required!
Wellbeing: Enjoy the proven mental health benefits of working in nature.
Impact: See the immediate results of your work on the hospital environment.
Expenses: We provide reimbursement for public transport travel expenses. (Please note: parking is not available at the RIE and public transport or active travel is encouraged).