Stowe

Team volunteering days

   

A monumental day at

the office

The place The scale and beauty of Stowe has attracted visitors for over 300 years. Picture-perfect views, lakeside walks and classical temples create a timeless landscape, reflecting the changing seasons. Full of hidden meaning and classical references, the gardens at Stowe were created as an earthly paradise, still casting their spell today. In our care With 1,000 acres of park and 250 acres of landscape garden, constant maintenance and restoration is needed to ensure the unique design of Stowe is not lost to nature’s wilderness. The National Trust needs help to conserve the eighteenth-century landscape and keep it looking its best. With your help Corporate volunteering at Stowe is a great way to get to know your team whilst giving back to nature and helping us to look after this special place.

Supporting the cause

Something special If you're looking for a team building day with your employees and wish to support a charity at the same time , Stowe is a great place to choose. We have a dedicated programme of activities for groups to participate in, whilst helping our gardening team achieve exciting projects.

Did you know? We’re a charity and completely independent of Government funding. To support our work, we rely on membership fees, donations, legacies and the revenue raised from our cafes and shops at properties. We also depend upon over 400 volunteers to help us achieve our goals.

“At the heart of the National Trust is a simple common purpose. For places, for ever, for everyone. Donations from businesses help us continue to beat in tune with the heart of our founders' ambitions.”  

Barry Smith Head of Gardens and Estates, Stowe and the Aylesbury Vale Portfolio

To the left, gardening volunteers. To the right, meeting the team at Stowe, Barry Smith.

Donations

Protecting the future To host a team building day at Stowe, we ask for a donation of £25 per person for group sizes of 25 and under and £40 per person for group sizes of 26 and over. We kindly ask for this upon confirmation of booking to help support preparation for your day. Thank you for your support, we simply couldn't look after special places like Stowe without it. Booking Saying “Yes” to supporting our cause is easy. To book your day at Stowe, complete the accompanying booking form and return to: National Trust Stowe, New Inn Farm, Buckingham, Bucks, MK18 5EQ. Alternatively, you can email the details or form to: getinvolved.stowe@nationaltrust.org.uk The next step is to come for a pre-visit to Stowe so we can discuss details and make sure the day meets your requirements. If you have a group size of under 15, we may be able to go through these details on the phone. For more information, call 01280 817156.

 

Team building

Giving a little, gaining a lot There's so much to be gained from a day out in the fresh air. Here's some of the great reasons to convince your team to come to Stowe:

Volunteering is a great way of giving back to the local community

Achieve your own Corporate Social Responsibility aims From reducing carbon footprint by tree planting to protecting the environment by helping to create new habitats; our activities will support your strategy

Promote employee bonding and relationship-building across departments which don't often work together

Enhance your brand's image with your own customers by showcasing your support of a charity

Boost morale within your team by providing time away from daily tasks, recharge their batteries and increase employee productivity and staff retention

Improve relationships with key stakeholders by developing a regular programme of community work

Teach individuals new skills and build self-esteem Providing access to the natural world will help employees

support change initiatives such as energy-saving and recycling

“Combine a workshop, training or meeting in our Bennett Room with half a day's volunteering. The great office escape”  

To the left, Home Retail Group helping to restore the Ha-ha wall. To the right, HBOS help build the Farmhouse Garden at the New Inn.

Making a difference

Your impact The skills and energy from corporate team days are hugely valuable to the National Trust. Your team can achieve projects in one day which would

take our small team of gardeners weeks to complete Donations support the restoration work of the gardens

and park specifically at Stowe. Your team can return time and time again to see how their handiwork and company donation has benefitted the community and hundreds of thousands of visitors

Volunteers feel engaged with the work of our charity deciding to return as visitors, become a regular volunteer or become lifelong supporters

Volunteering supports our aims of building links and relationships with businesses

Above, Nuffield Health enjoyed a day of bonding in the Labyrinth. To the right, Home Retail Group pruning in the Lamport Garden.

On the agenda

Throughout the year Stowe welcomes corporate volunteering groups throughout the year. Depending on the time of year we can accommodate different tasks on the same day for large groups. Your day will be designed especially for you by our team, who’ll assign your tasks and be your point of contact from booking onwards. Please let us know what you’re looking to get out of the day so we can tailor it around your needs. Saying hello Upon arrival, your group will be met by a member of the team for a brief introduction, welcome you to Stowe and direct you to key facilities. As you start your day, the team member looking after you will explain the task and introduce you to the historical significance of maintaining Stowe using sympathetic methods to the eighteenth century. Setting up camp The Bennett Room is set aside for your booking is. Situated in the New Inn visitor centre, it’s available for you to use for lunch or as a meeting space for part of the day or for additional days if you wish to book a longer experience away from the office.

 

Your corporate volunteering day will be bespoke for your team with tasks suited to the season. To give you an idea of what to expect, here are a few of the tasks previous groups have helped us with:

Painting the Wooden Bridge

Pruning the laurel in the Grecian Valley

Sorting stones for the restoration of the Ha-ha

Restoring paths in Lamport Garden

Woodland restoration work in the parkland

Harvesting in the Farmhouse Garden

Planting trees and repairing tree guards

Above, the team from Goldman Sachs had a day getting to know one another. Nielson repair paths. To the right, the statue of the Wrestlers returned to Stowe in 2017.

Getting stuck in

Restoring Stowe

2015 saw the start of a new phase of restoration for the gardens at Stowe. The Landscape Programme comprises of 54 tasks taking place over five years to reinstate many of the lost temples and monuments that once ‘dressed’ the gardens like pieces of a theatre set whilst also undertaking maintenance on structures and lakes. Another highlight will be the opening of parts of the garden not currently open to the public. What restoration work will take place? This project will transform the gardens of Stowe with almost another 1/3 of the existing size being added and made accessible to the public, including the reinstatement of land currently used as a nine-hole golf course. Playing your part The support you’ll give us when volunteering will have a direct impact on this project. As we move through each task, you’ll be helping to create new pathways, prune and open up new views never seen before by visitors and helping to prepare areas to look their best ready for the return of statues. Your team can get a sense of achievement in helping us return Stowe to its place of international significance amongst gardens of the world.

Taking a break Menu options from the Nevillery Café

(All dishes and prices are subject to change with the seasons and are able to be tailored to suit dietary requirements.)

D/F—Dairy free G/F—Gluten free

Two courses

Main course

Seasonal pie with shredded cabbage and new potatoes (D/F)

Or

Quiche with grated sweet potato crust served with buttered new potatoes and garden salad

(G/F)

Or

One pot casserole with shredded cabbage and new potatoes (G/F, D/F)

Dessert

Fruit crumble served with custard or cream

Or

Fresh fruit salad (G/F, D/F)

Tea or coffee

Price £16.95 per head

Picnic option

A sandwich, crisps, a bottle of water,

fruit and flapjack all in a takeaway bag.

£7.50 per head

One course

Main course

Quiche with grated sweet potato crust served with buttered new potatoes and garden salad (G/F)

Or

One-pot casserole with shredded cabbage and new potatoes (G/F, D/F)

£8.95 per head

Tea or coffee and biscuit bites

£2.95 per head

Buffet menu

Selection of sandwiches, sausage rolls, mini quiches, honey & mustard glazed sausages, cheese

straws, vol-au-vents, fresh fruit platter, brownie and flapjack bites

£12.95 per head

Getting ready

The tasks are based outside and we’re very weather dependant. Please ensure you bring the following with you to make the Great British weather more enjoyable:

Sun hat, sun cream and sunglasses for good weather

Good protective shoes (ideally steel toe cap)

A rucksack for belongings: these will be with you throughout the day

Plenty of water and any snacks the team might want for breaks through the day and to stay hydrated. A flask isn’t a bad idea if there is a chill in the air

Waterproofs and warm layers if the weather turns wet or cold

To the left, sandwich platter. Above, the view of the Lake Pavilions and Corinthian Arch at Stowe.

Travel plans

Address:

National Trust Stowe, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire,

MK18 5EQ

By road:

3 miles north-west of Buckingham town, just off the A422

Buckingham to Banbury Road. From M40 take exits 9 to 11,

from M1 exits 13 or 15a

Parking: Free (£2 non-members) - these help us maintain and

restore the gardens at Stowe

Satnav: MK18 5EQ

On arrival:

Please park in the main car park. Walk to the New Inn and the

small grey door within the larger carriage doors will be open

for you. Head straight across to Visitor Welcome, which will

be directly in front of you and someone will meet you.

The National Trust is a registered charity, no 205846. © National Trust 2018, National Trust Images/John Millar, Jerry Harpur,

Andrew Butler, Martin Fletcher, David Humphries.

Contact Details Name of organisation

Contact name  

Address

 

Postcode  

Telephone number  

Email address  

Volunteering Details Proposed date of volunteering day(s) – Please suggest various dates or a range of dates if you cannot be specific.

 

Arrival time

 

Departure time

 

Total number in the group

 

Are there any access requirements within the Group for us to consider when planning tasks?

 

Would you like to talk to us about catering requirements? We have a café facility at Stowe and can talk to you about menu options and costings as part of the organisation of the day.

 

Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the National Trust at Stowe and for taking the time to complete this form. We will get back to you soon to plan the next steps.

Stowe Team Volunteering Booking Form

For further enquiries, please call 01280 817156 or email getinvolved.stowe@nationaltrust.org.uk