Every year thousands of people, of all ages, give up their time to help protect, restore and show visitors around historic National Trust properties and gardens all over the UK. Steph Woolvin spoke to three local volunteers….
Diana Crook - Coleton Fishacre Garden Guide
What is your role?
I take people on a one hour tour around the grounds on a Sunday afternoon at 2pm. There is a tour everyday at that time run by different volunteers. I tell visitors what plants we have, explain about the work that goes into maintaining all the beds and borders and explain a little about the history.
What is the history?
The house was built by Rupert D’Oyly Carte and Lady Dorothy between 1923 and 1926. They spotted this valley when they were out sailing their yacht and thought ‘that’s the place for us’ and soon started work designing the house and gardens. Rupert was the son of Richard D’Oyly Carte, the man behind Gilbert and Sullivan and the Savoy Hotel. Rupert went on to become Chairman of the Savoy Hotel Company in 1903, and ten years later took over the management of the Opera Company. The pair used it as their country home to enjoy gardening, sailing trips, swimming and entertaining.
What are people most interested in?
They like to know about the family and the way the garden was created. It was heavily influenced by Edwin Lutyens, an important architect and designer in the early 1900s. The garden was just as important to the family as the house and they wanted the outdoor space to be in keeping with the Arts and Crafts movement.
How much care goes into the garden?
There are normally four gardeners who maintain the grounds, and 30 volunteers. Each border and flowerbed is carefully constructed with specific themes, ideas and colours. It really is a work of art and it never stands still, the garden is constantly moving. The D’Oyly Cartes themselves were experimental in the garden and the team try and keep that adventurous spirit going today.
When did you start volunteering here?
In March. I followed the head gardener around during my training, asking lots of questions! I also spent time with other volunteers learning how they operate.
Do you have to be a gardening expert?
Absolutely not, but it helps. You don’t need to learn the names of everything in the garden. I find myself often taking photos of plants and trees and then googling them later! My knowledge is growing every week. The gardeners are very helpful and give us notes each month explaining about any recent changes so we are kept up to date.
Have you met friends through your work here?
Yes I have. Everyone has been extremely welcoming. We have regular socials where volunteers get to catch up. As an organisation The National Trust is very encouraging and enthusiastic and really care about the properties and the people.
Did you know Coleton Fishacre before you became a volunteer?
Oh yes! I have been visiting the garden for over 30 years. We used to live in Gloucestershire but moved to Dartmouth 18 months ago.
What do you most like about the garden?
That there is something for every season, it doesn’t matter what time of year you visit. It’s not just tropical flowers; there are amazing borders, hedges, bamboo forests and wonderful trees. I particularly like the rill garden with the natural stream that starts up by the house and travels all the way down to the sea at the bottom of the garden. It has plenty of perennials which were a favourite of Lady Dorothy.
What is your favourite time of the year?
Spring - when it’s all to hope for and there is a freshness in the air.
What happens when it rains?
My tour is definitely an all-weather one! You find people are very hardy even in the pouring rain! We get all ages and the odd dog coming along too.
Do you like gardening yourself?
Yes I do. I’ve enjoyed cultivating our own garden over the past 18 months. It’s where you’ll find me most Saturdays.
What do you do the rest of the time?
I’m a retired Anglican priest and I still conduct a few local services. I also enjoy sailing and we have quite a few house guests.
What is your favourite meal?
There is a Riverford recipe I enjoy cooking….and eating! It has chicken, peas, onions and white wine.
Last film you watched:
Phantom Thread, it’s set in the glamour of post-war London with Daniel Day-Lewis.
Tipple of choice: Whisky – neat.
Gail Richmond - Coleton Fishacre House - Room Guide
Gail Richmond
How many days do you volunteer?
I usually do one morning or a whole day each week.
Talk us through your role:
I get to work at about 10.15am and go into the volunteer room where we have a cup of coffee and the house manager gives a little briefing letting us know if there are any coach trips planned for example. I then go into the house and toddle off to my first room of the day where I chat to visitors as they pass through. We move rooms every hour.
Do you have a favourite room?
The dining room. It’s the only room in the house that has nearly all its original furniture. I like the saloon too, it’s light and bright and I like inviting people to sit on the green sofas and imagine they have a cocktail in their hand. We can take them back to the 1920s! We often have music playing in there, such as Noel Coward, and people are allowed to play the piano.
What facts do you like telling people?
I like the quirky things, for example the tassels on the main light on the ceiling in Lady Dorothy’s room are actually solid. She didn’t like spiders so couldn’t stand the idea of them having material they could hide and nest in! There is also a bat screen on one of her bedroom windows to stop bats flying in during the night.
Do you get asked any tricky questions?
The men sometimes ask me questions about the heating or plumbing – not my area of expertise at all! So I normally point them in the direction of a man to answer their questions!
Do you have to police children in the house?
Their parents are generally very good at keeping an eye on them. It is very tempting for them to touch in the dining room as we have fake cakes on the table. I always say, “they wouldn’t do your teeth any good!” We do have a handling room upstairs with clothes and jewellery that they can try on.
Why do you give up your time for the National Trust?
I love the role; I was an infant teacher so I can talk for England! My husband likes it on the days when I’m at Coleton – he says I’m quieter in the evening because I’ve talked so much during the day! I like art deco, I like Gilbert and Sullivan and I like National Trust properties.
Do you have many National Trust get-togethers?
Yes, we have a big jamboree at the beginning of the year where all staff and volunteers meet, it’s like a mini conference. There are a lot of us as we are ‘The Riveria Group’ which consists of Greenway, Coleton, Compton Castle and Bradley Manor in Newton Abbot. We also have a big Christmas party and a summer BBQ and picnic. They keep us well informed of any news and events through a weekly newsletter.
What do you do during the months Coleton Fishacre is closed?
I have quite a few other things to keep me busy. I am chairman of Dartmouth U3A (University of the Third Age), I sing in Dartmouth Rock Choir and I have two children and five grandchildren!
How would people describe you: Determined, vivacious and friendly.
What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
Wait for my husband to bring me an orange juice!
Best childhood memory:
Family holidays in North Devon.
Naughty snack of choice:
Chocolate biscuits.
Jon Lock - Volunteer with the Ranger team
Jon Lock
What does the ranger team do?
We maintain the National Trust land outside of its houses or gardens. We are responsible for things like keeping footpaths accessible (cutting back bracken and brambles and repairing steps) and for managing the land for wildlife conservation. The majority of our work takes place on the coastal area between Kingswear and Brixham.
How do you help conserve wildlife?
One project involves us working with the RSPB and local farmers to improve the habitat for the cirl bunting (an endangered farmland bird) whose numbers are now starting to rise again in South Devon.
How often do you go out with the team?
I try to go out once a week. I’ve been a volunteer ranger for nearly two years.
Why did you sign up?
I’m a keen walker and have spent years walking in Scotland and down here along the coast path, so I’m very aware of the National Trust’s work. I’ve always been impressed with the way they look after our beautiful landscape so I felt it was time I gave something back.
Is it hard work?
It can be, yes, especially if we are working on a steep rocky slope. Some areas are quite remote so it takes a while to even get there before we can start work! There are four full time rangers, three men and one woman, and four or five volunteers and we always work in pairs, or groups, never alone.
Do you get to use powerful bits of kit?
Sometimes, but you need to go on a course before you are let loose with anything too powerful. I’ve completed my brush cutter/strimmer training but I can’t use a chainsaw as I’m not yet qualified.
Where can we find you when you aren’t out on the coast path with a pair of shears?!
I’m a self-employed market research consultant and still work two or three days a week. I do most of my work from home but have to travel to St Albans every few weeks. I travel to France quite a lot as my partner is French and lives just outside Paris.
What activities do you do over there?
We often walk around Paris, visit museums or cafes and we sometimes take our bikes to Versailles and cycle around the gardens. I’m still trying to learn to speak French!
And what do you get up to in England?
I have an allotment that I try and maintain as best I can. I’m currently harvesting new potatoes, broad beans, beetroot, salad leaves and raspberries, so there’s plenty of choice for dinner!
What do you tend to do on a Saturday night?
I’ve just started volunteering at the Flavel, where I’m a steward and sometimes work behind the bar, so I might be there at the weekends.
What career would you have chosen if you hadn’t been a market research consultant?
Something outdoors. My dad was a farmer and sometimes I regret not following in his footsteps.
Favourite book: Any Human Heart by William Boyd.
Next holiday: New Zealand in November to see my daughter who is working out there for a year.
If you are interested in volunteering at the National Trust please contact Volunteer Officer Laura Rugg: Laura.Rugg@nationaltrust.org.uk or phone 01803 843235
