Herb Society Volunteers

News For Our Volunteers...

In January 2009 the Herb Society Council voted to pay its volunteers travelling expenses when they come along to help at an event, or volunteer to help out at Sulgrave. The expenses are paid at 15p per mile within a 25 mile radius of the event/location.

Our volunteers still qualify for free entry tickets to shows such as Gardeners World Live and RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park and also gain free entry to Herb Society run events that they volunteer to help at. Keep an eye on our Diary page and if an event is happening in your local area and you'd like to volunteer, then get in touch with our Events Organiser Jenny Jones via Flick our admin.

Volunteers Day 2009

This event will run once again this year and to clarify some misinterpretations made by some members last year. The day is say 'Thank You' to all our volunteers both past, present and future. The day is free to attend for Herb Society volunteers and lunch will be provided, but feel free to bring along homemade cakes and biscuits to go with the coffee and tea. The day will be once again be in October but the date is to be confirmed and will be announced here and on the diary page as soon as we know the date. Details about the programme and times will also follow.

Volunteers Day 2008

18th October 2008

Saturday 18th October saw the gathering of volunteers of the Herb Society at a special event hosted by Jan Greenland. Everybody attending agreed it was a wonderful and productive day. The day began with a cookery demonstration where Jan showed everyone how to Mandarin and Ginger Gateau (which was on the pudding menu!) and some delightful chocolate, fruit and nut petits fours. A guided tour of the garden followed and Jan made sure that everyone had cuttings of any herbs they didn't already have.

After the tour everyone went in for lunch provided by Jan, which comprised a wonderful leek and potato soup with Jan's Dyett bread followed by a selection of scrumptious puddings. Throughout the day volunteers discussed events they attended during the year, the new 'Volunteer Policy' document and ways to make volunteering a more beneficial experience for all concerned. The volunteer policy is still in its draft stage, it will be added to the website when it is complete.

After lunch Jan gave everyone a very interesting talk and slideshow on 'Edible Herbs From The Ice Age To Present Day', which generated lots of comments and questions from those present. The day ended with everyone getting hands on with some of the herbal items they'd just heard about during the talk.

Looking at the herbal items that were in the talk

Gardeners World Live 2008

11th - 14th June 2008

Our thanks go to all the volunteers who helped make this event a success, in no particular order:- Ruth Waters, Joyce Hodrien, Sally Miller, Janet Turner, Vicki Bowen, Judith Grubb, Samantha Green and Diana Vernon. Thanks also to David Jones, Kevin Waters and Simon Cook for helping set up and break down the stand and to Flick Kingston and Jenny Jones for all their hard work in organising and making the event work.

Council would like to say a special thank you to Ruth Waters for her hard work and dedication over the years. Ruth (seen in the apricot top in the photo to the right) is one of the shining stars of the volunteers of the Herb Society. She has been a longstanding member of the Society for nearly thirty years, and has helped out and volunteered at every day, of every Gardeners World Live show that we've taken part in since 1993! Ruth is also responsible for the herb displays and herbal arrangements that members and the public see on our stands at the NEC. Your hard work is very much appreciated Ruth, a hearty thank you from us all.

Ruth Waters and Sam Green helping out at 2008 GW show

Part of the stand at the 2008 Gardeners World show

The Herb Society Needs YOU!

Have you got some spare time?

Are you passionate about herbs and all things herbal?

Do you want to help the HERB SOCIETY grow?

Then why not become a Herb Society Volunteer?

It’s an exciting time for the Herb Society, with plans to grow the membership and take onboard many new projects, but to do all this we need help. There are a number of ways that you can help us, one of them is volunteering your time and enthusiasm, we are looking for volunteers to:-

• Help at events such as Gardeners World Live and the AGM at Sulgrave.

• Set up local groups.

• Partake in projects to increase the knowledge and profile of the Society.

• Help tending the gardens at Sulgrave, we need volunteers to help prune, weed, paint fencing and other routine maintenance of the Herb Society gardens.

Helping at events involves either a morning or afternoon on the Herb Society stand, with time to browse for the rest of the day. You ticket will be provided for the event. Please see our list of events to see if there is one near you that you could volunteer your time.

If you would like to set up a local group please let us know. We are hoping to have groups setting up by the end of the year so why not be one of the first.

To raise the profile of the Herb Society we hope to compile a list of speakers around the country who can be called upon to do local events. If you have experience in any of the four areas of interest (gardening, medicine, cooking and craft with herbs), you may like to share your knowledge by doing talks, exhibitions etc. Let us know if you would like to offer your expertise in these areas.

Please contact Jenny Jones on 01676 532320