Our parks service values working together with organisations, volunteers and communities.
We're committed to:
- connecting people to their local community
- improving the experiences of volunteers working with us
- developing conservation and green space skills
- developing opportunities to support communities to make decisions about parks
- supporting and developing people's access to parks and green spaces
The benefits of volunteering
Volunteering in our parks and green spaces can help you:
- gain new skills and experience to improve your employment opportunities
- meet new people and be part of a community
- improve your physical and mental wellbeing
Parks volunteer programme data privacy notice
Your privacy is important to us. We collect your personal details when you fill in a form, phone us or send us an email or letter.
For information on what personal information we collect, how we store it, and your rights see our Parks Volunteer Programme Privacy Notice.
Friends of Park Groups help improve parks and green spaces and create opportunities for members to learn new skills.
There are Friends of Park Groups all around the city. Each has specific activities and regular meetings.
The Bristol Parks Forum has a list of the groups you can join. Visit the members page of Bristol Parks Forum to find your local group.
Our set up and run a Friends of Park Group page has guidance to help you set up and grow your parks friend group.
You can volunteer to work alongside our rangers and gardeners in 3 of our largest green spaces. They run a seasonal programme of volunteering throughout the year.
How to volunteer
If you're interested in any of the following opportunities, fill in our form:
Ashton Court
The Ashton Court Estate has 850 acres of woods and grasslands. It's about 1.2 miles from the city centre.
Volunteering opportunities
Gardening group with Ashton Court gardening team
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10.30am to 12.30pm.
- Conservation group with the rangers
- Learn about maintaining Ashton Court and improve the estate for people and wildlife.
- Mondays and Thursdays, 10am to 12pm.
Blaise Estate
Blaise Castle Estate is a 650-acre parkland open to the public near Henbury, about 6 miles from the city centre.
Volunteering opportunities
Estate management group with the rangers
- Learn about maintaining and improving Blaise Estate. Rebuild steps, clear paths and help manage invasive species.
- Wednesdays, 10.30am to 12.30pm.
- Meet by the café.
- We provide tools and gardening gloves, but you are welcome to bring your own.
- What to wear:
- sturdy, waterproof footwear like walking boots are best but old trainers or wellies should be fine
- long sleeve tops, and you may need waterproofs too
Stoke Park
Stoke Park Estate is a 270-acre park open to the public.
Volunteering opportunities
Conservation and estate management group with the rangers
- Learn how to manage Stoke Park and make improvements to the site for people and nature.
- Thursdays, 10am to 12.30pm, and the first and third Saturday of the month, 10am to 12.30pm.
Visit Stoke Park and Stoke Park Community Group to find out more.
You can volunteer to work alongside ‘roving' rangers that support groups and green spaces in various sites across Bristol.
These include:
- ParkWork: mainly city centre and east Bristol
- One Tree Per Child: city-wide
- Your Park: south Bristol
- The Nature Nurture Group: mainly north and east Bristol
ParkWork
ParkWork offers ranger led conservation and gardening session in parks and green spaces across Bristol, with training and skills development for people who are looking for work in the green sector.
ParkWork session are led by Joe, and take place:
Weekly:
- Eastville Park on Wednesdays
- Oldbury Court on Fridays
Monthly:
- Brandon Hill on the first Tuesday morning of the month
- Castle Park on the first Tuesday afternoon of the month
- Owen Square Park on the second Tuesday morning of the month
- Lawrence Weston Moor/Saltmarsh Drive on the last Tuesday of the month, alternately
- Mall Gardens on the first Friday morning of the month
Contact parkvolunteers@bristol.gov.uk with the email subject ‘ParkWork' to find out more
One Tree Per Child
One Tree Per Child plants trees in schools, parks and open spaces. Volunteers can help plant or maintain trees throughout the year.
Your Park: South Bristol
Our parks service works closely with the charitable foundation Your Park to improve our cities, parks and green spaces for health, wellbeing, and nature.
You can join work parties with volunteers and groups in 9 parks in south Bristol:
- Cottle Road green space
- Dundry Slopes
- Hartcliffe Millennium Green
- Hawkfield Meadow
- Hengrove Mounds
- Northern Slopes
- Stockwood open space
- Withywood Park
- Willmott Park
Contact rachel@yourpark.org.uk if you're interested, and you can find out more about bringing Bristol's parks to life on the Your Park website.
The Nature Nurture Group: mainly north and east Bristol
Help care for Bristol's green spaces with Nicky the ‘roving' ranger, taking part in seasonal outdoor activities that include:
- cutting back brambles along woodland edges and grasslands
- clearing litter from paths and streams
- learning new skills like scything grass and pruning fruit trees
- repairing paths and steps to protect woodland flowers
- observing and discovering local wildlife and habitats
No experience is needed, and all fitness levels are welcome.
Nature Nurture groups take place on Wednesdays and Fridays.
South/east Bristol
- Wednesdays, 10am to 3pm
- Locations:
- Callington Road Local Nature Reserve
- Coombe Brook Valley
- Eastwood Farm
- Crox Bottom
- Saltwell Valley
View the South and East Bristol Ranger led volunteer group Spring 2025 Programme (pdf, 778 KB).
North Bristol
- Fridays, 10am to 2pm
- Locations:
- Kingsweston Estate
- Shirehampton Park and Napier Miles
- Lawrence Weston and Saltmarsh Drive
Taster sessions
You can join Nicky for a 30 to 60 minute taster session or come for half or a full day.
We'll provide you with:
- training on conservation tasks
- tools, equipment and gloves
- tea, coffee and biscuits
There is also a portable toilet and handwashing facilities.
You'll need to bring:
- lunch and a water bottle
- sturdy shoes and weather appropriate clothing
How to join our sessions:
- Apply online with through our Parks Volunteer Programme. We recommend applying 1 to 2 weeks before the session you would like to come to
- You'll be sent an email with more information including the meeting point for the session
For more information, contact parkvolunteers@bristol.gov.uk.
There are great benefits to volunteering and spending time outdoors with a group or as part of your day-to-day activities.
You may prefer to carry out low risk volunteer activities in your park in your own time such as weeding, litter picking, light pruning. You can do so provided the work is in line with management plans and Park Byelaws.
You will not be covered under Bristol City Council's personal accident insurance unless you're a trained Volunteer Lead and have submitted a risk assessment to the relevant Parks Operational Coordinator.
Follow the individual volunteering guidelines (pdf, 147 KB) to help keep yourself and other safe.
If you'd like to get involved in parks with your employer, find opportunities with our charity partner Your Park.