I retired 18 months ago, after working for 45 years at Hindleap Warren, London Youth’s Outdoor Education Centre at Wych Cross on The Ashdown Forest. As a qualified teacher, I was responsible for organising and teaching Hindleap’s Environmental Studies programmes as well as incorporating environmental awareness in all our outdoor activities. I have a particular interest in not telling children what things are called but letting them make their own discoveries about the wonders of our natural world.
Working with young people from areas of deprivation and children with disabilities has been a special joy. Latterly my role changed to looking after the premises and grounds of Hindleap, balancing the needs of an outdoor centre within a 300acre SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) was a wonderful challenge.
When Fiona needed some help with school groups and corporate volunteers at Gravetye, she approached me knowing that I had the time, I loved working with young people, especially those traditionally thought of as difficult, and love nature. But probably more importantly being retired and finding filling in tax forms too burdensome, I’d offered my services for free!
Before I started volunteering at Gravetye I’d read up on William Robinson to make sure I understood his work and his vision for Gravetye. He was a complicated man who changed his mind often. It seems to me that bringing his vision into the 21st century and then how to go about implementing it is the biggest challenge the charity faces.
I love trees. I have dozens of tree books in my library. Unlike my brother, who is a birdwatcher, when I go on trips to see trees, I know I’ll see them! I’ve been to see the world’s biggest trees. I’ve hiked into the White Mountains in California to see the world’s oldest tree, I’ve visited the UK’s tallest tree in Scotland, the UK’s oldest tree high in a glen in Scotland The UK’s tallest native tree was discovered only a few years ago just a few miles from my door and I can never pass an arboretum without popping in for a visit. My garden is full of trees – mostly bonsais as I have a tiny garden. I’ve guerilla planted trees and my favourite children’s book is ” The Man Who Planted Trees (and grew hope)”.
Planting trees with children is my favourite thing to do and especially if they get to come back to give them some aftercare and see how their trees are getting on. I love the thought of doing something from which our great great grandchildren may get to see in their full glory so I’m really pleased Fiona has procured some trees for volunteers to plant (and I’ve still got about a hundred trees potted up in my garden awaiting a permanent home)!
