Phil Singleton, Ben Jones and The Kew Litter Pickers
Phil Singleton – Wakehurst Place
Phil has volunteered continuously since 2009 when he started with the Wakehurst Horticultural team, helping to maintain the meadow in front of the Millennium Seed Bank. He has volunteered tirelessly, often unseen but always trusted and has a constant good humour, making the experience of working with him enjoyable for everyone. Phil has been producing a rota for the Wakehurst Learning team since 2014 and has made a real difference in this role which requires great attention to detail. This key document allows the Wakehurst Learning Programme to run smoothly which is especially important during peak season when over 2000 pupils per month take part in education sessions, resulting in the steady engagement of over 10,000 pupils in 2019-20. Phil has a wealth of educational knowledge which he shares with school groups and other volunteers. What Phil does is complicated and fraught with challenges such as people’s changing availability, but he remains organised, unflappable and in constant good humour.
Ben Jones – Princess of Wales Conservatory Volunteer – Kew Site
Ben has been volunteering at Kew for over 16 years across various horticultural teams and his dedication is exemplary. He volunteers weekly and is often on site twice a week. Ben often goes above and beyond his core volunteer duties, especially during the annual Orchid Festival build where he helps other less experienced volunteers and comes in extra days and weekends to push through and help complete the task. Scott Taylor, Conservatories Manager, says that Kew’s Orchid Festival would not be the event that is today without Ben’s volunteer support. On average, Ben contributes 300 hours of his time every year, he is a great ambassador for Kew always promoting their important work with pride and passion. He is a popular team member who is always friendly and gets on well with staff, students and volunteers with whom he shares his vast Kew knowledge.
Volunteer Litter Pickers – Kew Gardens
Kew’s team of 8 Volunteer Litter Pickers was established in 2011 and their role involves volunteering outdoors come rain or shine. This dedicated group of individuals are passionate about Kew and the environment, collecting litter and preventing the negative impact on Kew’s landscape and visitor experience that litter can cause. Their motivation is unquestionable as they turn up week after week to pick up the waste left by visitors, which includes soiled nappies, crisp packets and cigarette ends. The Volunteer Litter Pickers are invaluable to Kew’s Gardens Team and they have an excellent relationship with staff team members, communicating weekly with the Gardens Managers and reporting any issues encountered. Answering visitor enquiries politely and knowledgeably is a big by-product of this role. They are a tight knit group who support each other and Kew’s Horticultural team and the feedback from Kew staff and members of the public is always positive.