VOLUNTEERS are urgently required to help tell visitors the story of the beautiful National Trust gardens at Killerton House at Broadclyst.

The garden, which was originally laid out in 1808 in a collaboration between Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 7th Baronet, and John Veitch, was designed as a Regency pleasure ground. Apart from later alterations in the late 19th century and early 20th century, the gardens remain largely intact.

The Trust needs guides who can assist visitors to understand the history of the garden, from explaining how the Bear's Hut got its name to telling the stories of the plant hunters of the 19th century, who travelled the world looking for new and exotic plants.

If you enjoy meeting and talking to people and are reasonably fit, then these are all the qualifications you need. Historical and plant knowledge would be useful but not essential as training will be given.

Killerton House, the garden, park and estate as a whole, welcomes approximately 130,000 visitors a year. Volunteers play a huge role in supporting the National Trust in all its endeavours, and they are desperately needed at Killerton, in many areas across the property.

If you would like to help as a volunteer please contact Christina Le'Fley on 01392 881345 or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected] .