The volunteers behind one of Swindon’s best-loved heritage attractions have received national recognition after being awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest honour available to voluntary groups in the UK.
The Richard Jefferies Museum Trust, which runs the museum near Coate Water Country Park, has been recognised for the work carried out over the past 15 years to protect the historic site and turn it into a popular community attraction.
The award, regarded as the voluntary sector’s equivalent of an MBE, celebrates groups making an exceptional contribution to their communities.
For the museum’s team of more than 40 volunteers, the recognition marks another milestone in a journey that began in 2011, when the Trust was established to secure the future of the birthplace of Victorian author and nature writer Richard Jefferies.
Since then, volunteers have organised more than 2,500 events, welcoming and engaging with over 150,000 people through activities ranging from literary gatherings and nature events to school visits, art exhibitions, festivals and gardening.
Their work has helped keep an important part of Swindon’s history alive while giving local residents a place to learn, explore and enjoy.
A special celebration for the museum’s volunteers
The announcement was celebrated with a gathering at the museum last week, fittingly held on Richard Jefferies’ birthday.
Among those attending were the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Dame Sarah Troughton, South Swindon MP Heidi Alexander and the Mayor of Swindon, Councillor Neil Hopkins.
The occasion also marked 15 years since the Trust was founded, giving volunteers an opportunity to reflect on how far the museum has come and discuss what lies ahead.
There was plenty more to celebrate, with the museum receiving several other awards and acknowledgements for its work.
The museum’s collections team received a certificate recognising its achievement of Full Museum Accreditation from Arts Council England, an important milestone for the volunteer-run organisation.
Meanwhile, the gardening volunteers were presented with two certificates after achieving the highest assessment level in the Royal Horticultural Society’s It’s Your Neighbourhood scheme, as part of South Swindon Parish Council’s successful In Bloom entry.
There was also a financial boost for the museum’s future plans, with Ian Hatch, representing the Freemasons’ Charity, presenting a contribution towards a proposed new building on the site.
Plans for a new visitor centre
Although the King’s Award recognises what has already been achieved, the Trust is looking firmly towards the future.
Plans are being developed for a new visitor centre that would provide additional space for museum activities and community events, helping the attraction continue to grow.
Fundraising is now underway to support the project.
The museum itself is owned by Swindon Borough Council but operated and maintained by the volunteers, whose responsibilities cover everything from caring for historic collections and maintaining the gardens to organising events, delivering educational activities and securing grants.
Their efforts have helped transform the site into much more than a traditional museum, with its programme of activities attracting visitors from Swindon and further afield.
Celebrating 100 years of protecting Richard Jefferies’ birthplace
This year also marks a significant anniversary for the historic property.
It has been 100 years since Swindon Corporation purchased Richard Jefferies’ birthplace at Coate Farm in recognition of his contribution to literature and the natural world.
Born at the farm in 1848, Jefferies became one of the Victorian era’s notable writers, particularly through his observations of wildlife, the countryside and humanity’s relationship with nature.
His work continues to attract interest today, particularly as environmental conservation and the importance of protecting natural habitats remain prominent subjects.
His 1879 book, Wild Life in a Southern County, is credited by the Oxford English Dictionary with providing the earliest recorded example of the phrase ‘wild life’ being used to describe the natural world.
Gardener and broadcaster Monty Don has previously spoken about the continuing relevance of Jefferies’ writing, observing that society’s growing appreciation of the natural world makes his work particularly important today.
Royal recognition for Swindon’s community volunteers
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service was originally introduced in 2002 as the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, marking Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee.
Each year, a limited number of volunteer-led organisations are selected for the honour in recognition of their contribution to communities across the country.
The Richard Jefferies Museum Trust will receive a crystal trophy and a certificate signed by King Charles III, presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire at a future ceremony.
For a museum that relies on the time, commitment and enthusiasm of local volunteers, the award is recognition of years of work that has preserved an important piece of Swindon’s heritage.
And with plans for a new visitor centre now taking shape, the team hopes the next chapter will be just as successful as the last.
Further information about the museum can be found at Richard Jefferies Museum.
Details of the King’s Award for Voluntary Service are available through the official awards website.
