My Volunteering experience with the National Garden Scheme
Whether I'm photographing a private commission or volunteering with the National Garden Scheme in Lincolnshire, every garden has something different to offer. My volunteer visits are a gentle reminder not only of how restorative time in nature can be for both body and mind, but also of the passion, patience and countless hours that garden owners invest in creating beautiful places for others to enjoy.
I don't photograph every garden that opens across Lincolnshire, but whenever I am able to volunteer, I come away with far more than a collection of photographs. I leave with a reminder of why they attract so many visitors and why gardens have such a profound effect on our wellbeing.
I was especially taken with Willoughby Road Allotments. I spoke to some lovely allotment owners and I quickly got a sense of how vital the allotments were to people. It is a place to see people and be social. It had been a haven for doctors and local residents during the pandemic. It continues to be a life line to so many. The cafe onsite meant local people can come and have a coffee and chat to people. To see someone in their day, to potter in their allotment, to share vegetables to swap ideas.
Returning to the gardens themselves, there is something special about arriving at a garden early before too many visitors begin to wander through. I do my best to capture images without people and always respecting the owners’ property. As a photographer my instinct is to look for beautiful compositions, but I've learnt over time that my favourite images aren't always the dramatic ones. They are often the smallest details.
A worn wooden bench beneath an old tree that could tell a thousand stories. Light filtering through leaves. The curve of a garden path inviting you to see what lies beyond. A single flower catching the sun.
And that's why photographing gardens for me feels less like work and more like a form of meditation.
Before I even take a photograph, I spend time observing the light, the textures and the atmosphere. It's amazing how much you miss when you're walking with a destination in mind. The simple act of standing still for a few minutes often reveals details that would otherwise disappear unnoticed. I've come to realise this year that the same is true away from photography. When life feels busy, slowing down is rarely wasting time. I've found it's where clarity begins.
Gardens Invite Us Into the Present
Modern life encourages us to think about tomorrow's meeting, next week's plans or everything still waiting on our to do list (and I do love a list!).
Gardens don't ask any of that. They gently bring us back to this moment. To the scent of lavender. The movement of grasses in the breeze. The sound of bees moving between flowers. The warmth of sunshine through the trees.
It's difficult to dwell on yesterday or worry about tomorrow when your attention is completely absorbed by what's happening around you. I value that feeling so much.
Every Garden Tells Someone's Story
One of the things I enjoy most is discovering that every garden reflects the people who care for it. Some are meticulously designed. Others have evolved over decades. Some are filled with treasured family memories, while others are exciting new projects still finding their identity.
As a photographer, I love trying to capture not just the planting, but the feeling of a place.
Because long after individual flowers have faded, it's often the atmosphere people remember.
Gardens quietly remind us that growth can't be rushed. Seeds become flowers in their own time.Trees take years to mature. Borders evolve with every season. There is something reassuring about that.
It's a gentle reminder that we don't have to have everything figured out today.
Progress is still progress, even when it's slow. Another of my realisations this year.
Every time I volunteer with the National Garden Scheme, I come home with photographs, but also with something else.
A quieter mind and a renewed appreciation for nature's ability to restore perspective. I think that's why these gardens continue to inspire me. Not simply as places to photograph, but as places to breathe and enjoy.
What makes the experience even more meaningful is knowing that every garden opening is about more than beautiful borders and inspiring planting. Every ticket purchased, every cup of tea enjoyed and every plant bought helps support the National Garden Scheme's remarkable charitable work. The charity has donated millions of pounds to good causes, many of them close to my heart, supporting organisations such as Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Parkinson's UK, Carers Trust and The Queen's Institute of Community Nursing. It also funds community gardening projects, horticultural training and research into the positive impact that gardens can have on our health and wellbeing.
That feels extremely fitting. The same gardens that encourage us to slow down, reconnect with nature and care for our own wellbeing are also helping to care for others.
For me, that's what makes volunteering with the National Garden Scheme such a privilege. Every visit reminds me that gardens don't just grow flowers, they grow connection, kindness and hope.
If reading this inspires you to explore more gardens, the National Garden Scheme website is a wonderful place to discover gardens opening near you, learn more about the charity's work and plan your next visit. Many of the gardens also serve delicious tea and cake, along with plant stalls selling a wonderful variety of plants. I've bought many lovely additions for my own garden this year. It's a lovely way to bring a little piece of each garden home with me.
If you'd like to explore more of the gardens, landscapes and quiet details that inspire my photography, I'd love to invite you to browse my galleries.
Whether you're looking for inspiration, planning a visit to one of Britain's beautiful gardens, or considering photography for your own garden or estate, you'll find more stories waiting to be discovered.
Explore my garden photography and discover how I tell the stories of remarkable places.
