Bell House gardens are maintained and developed by a wonderful troupe of volunteers, who plant, weed and landscape come rain or shine. This month, Ellie, tells us about the work she does in the garden and the new initiatives she’s helping out with.
What is your role as a volunteer?
I am a volunteer gardener. I help out in the garden on Saturday mornings doing whatever jobs need doing that week. I have recently committed some extra time to help our Chief Gardeners – namely, Sarah and Shelagh – with some of the organisational requirements of the garden. I have been tasked with putting together a programme of educational gardening events.
How long have you been involved with Bell House?
I have been volunteering in the garden since January 2019 – I can’t believe it has been 2 and a half years!
What do you do away from from Bell House?
I work full time as a Data Scientist for a large insurance company. Outside of work, my interests include baking, travelling and pottering around in my own garden.
How long have you lived in the area and what drew you here?
I have lived in London since I graduated from university in 2015. I moved to Dulwich after a busy couple of years in bustling Brixton. I have since moved out towards Bromley, but pop back to Dulwich regularly for gardening and… Gail’s bakery!
What is your favourite thing to do in and around Dulwich?
I love the leafy vibe in Dulwich, it has a much calmer atmosphere than many other areas of London. When the sun is shining, I love popping to one of the numerous lovely coffee shops or bakeries to grab a drink and snack before heading to the park to relax.
What do you think you bring to Bell House as a volunteer and what do you get out of it?
Initially, I started volunteering in the Bell House garden to learn about gardening and nature, and to be outside in the fresh air. Since then I have really enjoyed being part of a community and giving back. It is refreshing to see lots of people who are willing to give up their precious free time to take part in something that benefits their community.
What have you been working on recently?
As well as getting my hands dirty in the garden, I have recently committed more time to helping out with the garden education programme. In the first instance this will be aimed at providing volunteer gardeners with practical gardening tips and tricks.
Are there any forthcoming projects, events or initiatives that you are particularly excited about?
I have been working towards organising an Open Garden event. The aim is to showcase the gardeners’ hard work by inviting visitors to explore the splendid gardens, and hopefully raise some money for garden education events. We are running a trial soon with the view to launch the event fully in August – so, watch this space!