Rural vineyard in Herefordshire

Experience life on a Vineyard in rural Herefordshire

Key info:

• 4-5hrs per day, 2 days off per week
• Food provided
• vineyard support, gardening and harvest
• Herefordshire

Accomodation:

I run a small vineyard, which is open to the public for tours and tastings in the summer, a large vegetable patch, a cider orchard, a woodland, a family (of husband and three university age children) and a number of animals including a small flock of sheep (15). It is pretty secluded but is nonetheless is only 20 minutes to Ledbury, Hereford, and Malvern, and the AONB of the Malvern Hills.

The volunteer accommodation is a separate building containing upstairs three bedrooms, a newly renovated bathroom and a sitting room with TV. Downstairs is the kitching, dining area and a loo. Adjacent to the kitchen is the wine shop. During the summer months, I need access to the kitchen and the downstairs loo for any visitors who may be caught short (and which therefore need to be kept clean and tidy when there are visitors about).

There are plenty of books on everything from gardening to Alexander the Great, modern technology to the Dune series. We have many board games as well.

If people do not have their own car, the nearest station is Malvern Link. Those arriving from the north sometimes come into Leominster or Hereford stations. We are very happy to collect from any nearby train or bus station.

What we need help with:

We could do with help in the vegetable garden from February onwards (sowing, potting on, planting out, weeding); gardening (mowing lawns, weeding); the vineyard (mowing, pruning, then harvesting later on); occasional help with the biomass boiler (using a JCB to fill the hopper with woodchip, dealing with the ash.)

The areas we would love help include the vegetable garden (we are planning to turn some of it into a flower garden this year), the main garden (weeding, mowing, replanting), the haha (keeping clear of pond weed), the pond (an acre that needs clearing reeds), the vineyard (mowing, summer pruning, laying of sheeps wool mulch), the winery (in particular bottle labelling), maintaining the demonstration vineyard. There is plenty to keep people busy. We are very happy to show how we do things and to learn new ways. There may also be the occasional time when we might be away for a day or two where someone might need to take responsibility for feeding the dogs and cats, and keeping the hens safe at night. Any longer and one of the family will be here.

Who we're looking for:

Ideally, we are looking for a couple, or pair of friends, who are experienced outdoors people / gardeners who can, for example, use a chainsaw or strimmer, to stay for a month or more.

Ideal skills/experience:

Property and maintenance, Garden and outdoors, Pet sitting

Experience with Vineyard work would be a bonus, rather than required. Lawn care ditto!

Your schedule:

Flexible hours, around 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week Free time to explore the local area

Pets

Tolly is a cocker/springer spaniel, who is Head of Customer Relations when the vineyard is open and we have now acquired a very lively Labrador/Border collie puppy called Lyra. We have several cats: Sky now 18 but behaves like a much younger cat though everyone knows who is the matriarch, and two black cats, who are identical and known as A and B as we can't tell them apart.

Local area

Herefordshire is full of beautiful walks, history, lovely people, incredibly inventive people who are specialising in all sorts of food and drink

There are several pubs in walking distance. Bus services exist but are not great so your own car is a plus.

Interested?

Send us a message and tell us:

• A little about yourself
• Why you'd love to join us and help us out with our various projects
• Any experience you have with gardening or DIY projects