My first day of volunteering was on a crisp but sunny morning, and as I tottered out in my slightly oversized wellies I was a tad nervous about the day to come. What if I found the work too difficult? What if the other volunteers weren’t friendly? My anxieties were diminished as soon as I arrived and a fellow volunteer made conversation with me, as we both walked up to meet the group leaders. The group consisted of eight of us in total, and we huddled around the leaders to all be introduced to one another and the tools which we would be using; my favourite was the tree puller, which could (as the name suggests) completely pull out a small tree, including its roots. We then all grabbed the nearest equipment and hauled it along for the short distance to the site.

 

Tugging, gripping and cutting. It was difficult work, but after a while I got used to it and even started to find it strangely cathartic. Watching the visible results of our labour and learning about the benefits of cutting back these hedges (how the dead and dying branches have the capability to harm other local species of plants) gave me a sense of achievement, and I felt the awaited biscuit break was well earned. The people working around me were some of the most kind-hearted people I’ve met. From the interesting anecdotes relayed to me, to the quiet admiration of a kestrel perched above us, my morning was truly fulfilling in every way. 

 

As the morning seeped into the afternoon, the hedge maintenance was becoming slightly more difficult. We were working on a hill, and so with each passing hour, we got higher and higher up. While this did provide a stunning view of the surrounding countryside, it also made the tugging of the brambles all the more difficult, with the steep slope making it hard to find footing. At long last, we stopped for a lunch break, sitting below the sloping hills, with the glowing sun glittering on the dewy grass around us. 

 

The afternoon was more of the same and despite my aching muscles, growing number of scratches and grubby fingernails I was on a high, really beginning  to feel I was making a difference, however small. I finally finished the day, with a renewed spirit and excitement for what adventures would await me on my next day of volunteering for the Wildlife Trust.

 

Three days later, saw me hedge planting around farming fields in Dorking. I learnt about the importance of hedges to the environment, as they prevent the surface run-off of pesticides, insecticides and fertilisers into nearby water sources, which can have a disastrous impact on the ecosystems of these habitats. Furthermore, hedges serve to lower noise, mitigate flooding and trap pollution, as well as act as a shelter to the local wildlife. Armed with this knowledge, I felt ready and enthusiastic to tackle the challenges ahead. During planting, we made sure to include a selection of different hedges, and would plant them with a protection guard and a pole to support them. After a while,  I really started to get into the swing of things. Ahead of our planting site lay a beautiful partially forested hill - I watched occasionally as a train would glide past in the distance, or a family walking their dog would wave encouragingly. 

 

The people around me were, once again delightful, engaging in interesting discussions about sustainability and solutions for the future. It truly made me appreciate the selfless nature of people who regularly sacrifice their free time for the good of the community and our beautiful natural environment. Where would we be without people like this and the tireless efforts of the Wildlife Trusts?