Be part
of our community
Join our community of volunteers, and come along to help, and enjoy the benefits of the physic garden. Everyone welcome, no prior experience needed, come little or often, and find peace and purpose in our relaxed friendly environment. Remote volunteers also welcome!
Dilston Physic Garden thrives because of the dedication and passion of our volunteers. Anyone can join, and by doing so you’ll help the garden flourish, and at the same time gain many wonderful benefits. Just email us to join.
Gardening For Wellbeing
Tuesdays & Wednesdays
10-4pm
Be in the fresh air and enjoy natural-habitat gardening and cultivation.
Botanical Making
Wednesdays 10-4pm
Make botanical teas and plant medicines, and harvest and dry our organic herbs.
Other Roles
Remote or in person
Other roles include : fundraising, book-keeping, communications, website (experienced), administration, physic shop, tour guides, event management, and steering management
We’re hugely grateful that we can continue our Gardening For Wellbeing volunteer programme – now on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with the support of The National Lottery Community Fund.
Enhance health, wellbeing, and your impact
Our community volunteering is inspired by the many benefits we’ve seen volunteer gardening bring to people’s lives over the years. Whether you’re looking to enjoy the physical and mental benefits of being and working outdoors, enjoy friendly company, or simply want to contribute to a meaningful cause, volunteering with us brings many benefits.
Relaxed Company Join a welcoming community of volunteers and enjoy the warmth and support that comes from working together toward a shared purpose. The friendly atmosphere makes every moment spent here both rewarding and fulfilling.
Improve Physical and Mental Health Working with the soil and the botanicals, experience a sense of peace, fulfilment, and rejuvenation, where worries slip away – volunteers say they experience the healing power of nature earth first-hand. The natural world nurtures mind, body and spirit in ways that are truly transformative. Not only are there many proven physical and mental benefits (read more), simply the joy and satisfaction of contributing to our mission, knowing that your work is making a positive difference both for yourself and for many others.
Connect with Nature. Whether you hands are in the soil or plants, working here inspires a deep connection with nature— cultivating our medicinal plants, and a deeper connection with nature.
Make a Lasting Impact Whether you’re helping with plant care, potting plants and harvesting, our online presence, fundraising and book-keeping or greeting visitors and giving tours, your contribution is vital to the physic garden’s ongoing success and mission to promote health and wellness through nature and to increase awareness of the benefits of medicinal plants.
We’re committed to continuing and expanding our volunteer gardening programme, particularly in the North of England, to help more people from urban areas access the benefits of volunteering at Dilston Physic Garden.
We want to do this not only because it helps support the garden, but because we know the huge difference that gardening and being in nature and a tranquil supportive environment makes to peoples lives, physically, mentally and emotionally – just scroll down to read the many benefits.
Join us and help us grow a place where both plants and people thrive together. To learn more about volunteering at the garden or to join our friendly team, please email info@dilstonphysicgarden.com or just give us a call – we’ll provide you with all the details.
At Dilston Physic Garden, our volunteers are the heart and soul of everything we do. Their precence, dedication, passion, and hard work are instrumental in making the physic garden experience what it is, and in helping us maintain the garden to achieve our mission.
To all our wonderful volunteers – the physic garden extends its deepest gratitude for your unwavering support and countless hours of work. Your contributions, through tending to the garden plants, assisting harvesting and botanical making, supporting the physic shop, scientific research, and online presence, are vital to the success of our mission. Each of you brings unique skills and personal enrichment to our community which is irreplaceable.
'Volunteer at Dilston' by Julie Paddon
“It’s Wednesday and how lucky I feel to arrive for work at the Garden. I open the main gate and step into peace and tranquility. Walking up the path, I stop at the bench to read this month’s poem, look up at the trees and marvel at the leaf shapes and change in the colours. Continuing on to the Herbology House I take in what’s new in flower, the seed heads, the fragrances and take a few deep relaxing breaths. My mood lifts as I take in the beauty of it all and I know that today will be a good day.
Being a “Tea volunteer” shouldn’t be confused with serving up refreshments for the visitors – as had been my first thought! Using the established tea recipes we mix up the herbs and spices that go into the range of botanical teas available in the shop. Nic and Holly ensure we have all the ingredients to hand and are available to offer advice and take part in the all important ‘taste test’ that each tea must pass before it’s deemed ready for packing and sealing.
No one day is like the other, it’s not all about tea. Some days we harvest herbs for drying, or prepare tinctures and herbal shots for steeping and when they are ready we are straining and bottling. There are wonderful organic aromatherapy oils to make uplifting sprays and rich creams. Everything is natural, every product has a purpose and has beneficial properties and everything is made with care. Once labelled and checked, then it’s ready to take to the shop, an Aladdin’s cave of wonderful aromas and potions, it’s a rare occasion that I don’t come away with some new product to try.
It’s a privilege to be just a small part of this wonderful place, to enjoy a day filled with creativity, learning, laughter and the good company of the DPG team.”
Nature is medicine! Scientific research has shown that nature-based recreation and spending time in natural environments significantly benefits emotional and physical wellbeing across all age groups, including youth, adolescents, the elderly and those with mental and physical health issues. These activities contribute to both physical and mental health, leading to a reduction in the burden of disease and a longer life.
Improve Physical Health Engaging in gardening and other nature-based activities increases physical activity, which is linked to numerous health benefits, including lower risks of obesity, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. A study published in Preventive Medicine found that gardening is associated with higher levels of physical activity and better physical health outcomes and longevity (Pretty et al., 2005).
Enhance Immune Function Exposure to natural environments has been shown to improve immune function. Research published in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine demonstrates that spending time in natural settings can enhance the body’s immune response, potentially reducing the incidence of illnesses (Lee et al., 2015).
Lower Stress and Anxiety and Improve Mood Nature-based activities, including gardening, have been shown to lower stress and anxiety levels. A study in Health & Place found that interacting with nature can reduce cortisol levels, a biomarker of stress, and improve overall mental well-being (Ulrich et al., 1991). Being in nature has been associated with improved mood and reduced symptoms of depression. Research published in The Journal of Positive Psychology highlights that spending time in natural environments can lead to significant improvements in mood and decreased feelings of depression (Berman et al., 2012).
Enhance Cognitive Function Time spent in natural settings has been linked to better cognitive function and attention. A study in Psychological Science found that nature exposure can improve attention span and cognitive performance, likely due to the restorative effects of natural environments (Berman et al., 2008).
Better Sleep Exposure to natural light and outdoor activities can regulate circadian rhythms and improve sleep quality. Research in Sleep Medicine Reviews indicates that spending time in natural light helps to synchronize the body’s internal clock, leading to better sleep patterns (Chellappa et al., 2011).
Holistic Health Improvement Combining physical activity with nature exposure, such as through gardening, integrates physical exercise with mental relaxation. Studies show that this combination can lead to overall improvements in health, including better mood, reduced stress, and enhanced physical fitness (Thompson Coon et al., 2011).
Participating in community groups and gardening has benefits on our physical and mental health.
Scientific research demonstrates that participating in community groups and gardening provides significant benefits for both physical and mental health. These include increased physical activity, improved dietary habits, enhanced wellbeing and social support, reduced stress and anxiety, better mood, and improved cognitive function. What’s holding you back!
Garden and embrace the joy and the benefits of getting muddy! A study at the University of Colorado revealed that harmless soil bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, may act as a natural antidepressant and anti-inflammatory agent. This bacteria triggers an immune response influencing the release and metabolism of serotonin in brain areas that control cognitive function and mood. So, don’t over-scrub those carrots and potatoes, and encourage children and yourself to embrace the mud for a healthier microbiome. Get gardening where ever you can!
Simply being outdoors absorbing sunlight to make vitamin D helps , engaging in the physical act of gardening, and connecting with individuals are all three proven to be beneficial for our mental well-being. What’s holding you back?
Sunshine and especially morning sunlight, improves our health. As well as engaging in the physical act of gardening, and connecting with individuals, simply being outdoors absorbing sunlight to make vitamin D benefits us in a number of ways. Sunlight-induced vitamin D production is vital for maintaining bone health, supporting immune function, regulating mood, and promoting cardiovascular health and adequate sunlight exposure and sufficient vitamin D levels play significant roles in regulating circadian rhythms, improving sleep quality, and potentially reducing the risk of sleep disorders. Read more.
Scientific research supports that engaging in nature, gardening, and nature-based activities offers significant benefits for both physical and mental well-being, including improved physical health, reduced stress and anxiety, enhanced mood, better cognitive function, and improved sleep. However, though it is clear that being in nature and gardening enhances mental health, particularly in urban settings, to maximize these benefits and effectively inform policy, there is a need for continued investment in high-quality interventions and research.
Ríos-Rodríguez ML, Rosales C, Hernández B, Lorenzo M. Benefits for emotional regulation of contact with nature: a systematic review. Front Psychol. 2024 Jul 19;15:1402885. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1402885. PMID: 39100558; PMCID: PMC11294936.
Scott TL, Masser BM, Pachana NA. Positive aging benefits of home and community gardening activities: Older adults report enhanced self-esteem, productive endeavours, social engagement and exercise. SAGE Open Med. 2020 Jan 22;8:2050312120901732. doi: 10.1177/2050312120901732. PMID: 32030127; PMCID: PMC6977207.
Odeh R, Diehl ERM, Nixon SJ, Tisher CC, Klempner D, Sonke JK, Colquhoun TA, Li Q, Espinosa M, Perdomo D, Rosario K, Terzi H, Guy CL. A pilot randomized controlled trial of group-based indoor gardening and art activities demonstrates therapeutic benefits to healthy women. PLoS One. 2022 Jul 6;17(7):e0269248. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269248. PMID: 35793277; PMCID: PMC9258874.
Park SA, Lee AY, Park HG, Lee WL. Benefits of Gardening Activities for Cognitive Function According to Measurement of Brain Nerve Growth Factor Levels. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Mar 2;16(5):760. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050760. PMID: 30832372; PMCID: PMC6427672.
Tillmann S, Tobin D, Avison W, Gilliland J. Mental health benefits of interactions with nature in children and teenagers: a systematic review. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2018 Oct;72(10):958-966. doi: 10.1136/jech-2018-210436. Epub 2018 Jun 27. PMID: 29950520; PMCID: PMC6161651.
Hansen MM, Jones R, Tocchini K. Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Jul 28;14(8):851. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14080851. PMID: 28788101; PMCID: PMC5580555.
Triguero-Mas M, Anguelovski I, Cirac-Claveras J, Connolly J, Vazquez A, Urgell-Plaza F, Cardona-Giralt N, Sanyé-Mengual E, Alonso J, Cole H. Quality of Life Benefits of Urban Rooftop Gardening for People With Intellectual Disabilities or Mental Health Disorders. Prev Chronic Dis. 2020 Oct 15;17:E126. doi: 10.5888/pcd17.200087. PMID: 33059797; PMCID: PMC7587297.
Tracey D, Gray T, Sweeting J, Kingsley J, Bailey A, Pettitt P. A Systematic Review Protocol to Identify the Key Benefits and Associated Program Characteristics of Community Gardening for Vulnerable Populations. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Mar 19;17(6):2029. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17062029. PMID: 32204405; PMCID: PMC7143884.
Cox DT, Shanahan DF, Hudson HL, Fuller RA, Anderson K, Hancock S, Gaston KJ. Doses of Nearby Nature Simultaneously Associated with Multiple Health Benefits. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Feb 9;14(2):172. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14020172. PMID: 28208789; PMCID: PMC5334726.
Frumkin H, Bratman GN, Breslow SJ, Cochran B, Kahn PH Jr, Lawler JJ, Levin PS, Tandon PS, Varanasi U, Wolf KL, Wood SA. Nature Contact and Human Health: A Research Agenda. Environ Health Perspect. 2017 Jul 31;125(7):075001. doi: 10.1289/EHP1663. PMID: 28796634; PMCID: PMC5744722.
Wang Y, Timms F, Li J, Yu H. Benefits of nature-based intervention in combating the impact of urbanization on psychopathology in industrialized societies. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2024 May 1;37(3):202-211. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000937. Epub 2024 Feb 26. PMID: 38415720.
Ríos-Rodríguez ML, Rosales C, Hernández B, Lorenzo M. Benefits for emotional regulation of contact with nature: a systematic review. Front Psychol. 2024 Jul 19;15:1402885. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1402885. PMID: 39100558; PMCID: PMC11294936.
