All sorts of activities are required depending on the seasons and the weather including watering, clearing, cleaning, clipping, sweeping, planting, mulching, chatting, helping at events.

These activities are tailored to suit both the challenges of public realm and what our urban critters require so some techniques will be different to what might have learned.

We will support you in the sessions so you can successfully learn these new skills!

Anyone! We have mums and their kids, grandmas and everyone in-between come along.

You don’t have to have gardening experience - we have volunteers from all walks of life, some of whom have never planted a plant before!

Have a look at the images above at what the volunteers are up to- you can get a good idea of the activities and what is required of your body.

Saying that, if you aren’t overly mobile that’s ok too- we have lots of watering to be done!

You are more than welcome to come along for a few trial sessions if you want to see if it right for you. Just send us an email at volunteers@heartscapes.org.au

Training and support at the gardening sessions is always happening. Emma and other experienced volunteers will help you!

Support outside the sessions is always available through our fantastic Volunteer Manager.

We are working hard on creating more formal training- stay tuned!

Volunteer safety is very important to us. Every volunteer is insured.

As a part of our work, we also expect a certain level of Duty of Care from every volunteer. We work in public spaces often near roads and use proper gardening tools so being on the ball and aware of your own safety plus the safety of others around you is very important.

Our awesome Volunteer Coordinator will get in touch within a week with next steps. Be ready to pick a session and turn up to help us create positive change!

Minimum: We would love to see you at least once every 2 months, preferably once or twice a month.

Maximum: You can volunteer weekly and often for more than 2 hours as there is often more gardening tasks to be done after the volunteer session ends.

For more experienced members of the MPC Street Gardening Crew, there are additional opportunities outside the gardening sessions around watering and weeding.

If something has happened and you can’t make it to a gardening session for a while please do let us know- it will really help us to plan ahead.

You can:

• follow us on Instagram @heartscapes_org

• check out our Events Page for upcoming tours and workshops

• purchase Emma’s book Melbourne Pollinator Corridor Handbook

• go to Street Gardening FAQs on our website

If you have any questions that aren’t answered on this page please email volunteers@heartscapes.org.au

These activities happen at large and small sites with large and small teams throughout the Melbourne Pollinator Corridor zone in Melbourne’s south.

As of May 2025, we rotate through about 7 sites through the MPC zone.

Absolutely!

The Duke of Ed award is a fantastic goal for a young person and can be very helpful when applying to university and scholarships. It demonstrates something important - that you have been able to commit to personal goal over a period of time.

To quote their website “The Duke of Ed Framework has three Levels including Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each Level is made up of four Sections which include Physical Recreation, Skills, Voluntary Service, and an Adventurous Journey.

Being a regular part of the MPC Street Gardening Crew fits well into Skills and Voluntary Service.

Learn more about this internationally recognised award for young people here

Absolutely! For many reasons, volunteering with us can give you the edge when applying for jobs and scholarships. We have a Volunteer Recognition Program with beautiful certificates for you when you have completed 25/50/75/100 etc sessions. Total hours volunteered are noted on the certificate.

References would also be available from Emma on a case by case basis.