John joined Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice as a garden volunteer in March last year and is now enjoying his second season helping to care for the hospice's six acres of gardens and outdoor spaces.

His volunteering journey began after taking part in Bluebell Wood's Christmas tree recycling project.

"What brought me here was the Christmas tree recycling project," said John. "That got me looking at the website and I saw they were looking for garden volunteers. When I found out there were six acres of gardens, I thought that sounded like a great opportunity."

A keen lover of the outdoors with some gardening experience at home, John felt the role was the perfect fit.

"It just seemed like the right thing at the right time," he said.

Since joining the team, John has enjoyed getting to know fellow volunteers and staff while helping maintain a welcoming environment for children and families.

"It's great being part of something that you know is benefiting children and families," he said. "You're helping to create and maintain a nice space that they can enjoy and spend time in. It gives you a really good feeling."

One of the things John values most about volunteering at Bluebell Wood is the flexibility.

"I do around a day every fortnight, but it's incredibly flexible," he explained. "If I've got more time available, I can offer more days. It's really relaxed in that regard."

For anyone considering becoming a volunteer, John says the benefits go far beyond the practical work.

"If you want to meet people and widen your circle, it's a great place to do that," he said. "You get to know people from different backgrounds, hear about their lives and share interests. I'd certainly recommend it."

As Bluebell Wood celebrates Volunteers' Week, we'd like to say a huge thank you to John and all of our volunteers who help make such a difference to local children and families every day.