There have been less musings of late, I suppose that has been because I am now familiar with a lot of the work that we undertake. We have been pretty busy with footpath work these last few weeks, which means digging steps, mending gates and erecting stiles. I have commented from time to time in previous posts on my difficulty in using some of the tools. I am now pleased to report that I can use the shove-hole tool more effectively. I am still fairly slow, but this doesn't matter so much when my colleagues are engaged in other activities nearby. I think the hardest part of any of these fencing jobs is digging the holes, since the ground in the Peak District is very stony. My colleague the Birdman says that in Norfolk, where he comes from, digging a hole is easy peasy.
I recently visited an old friend in Scotland who has been involved in community environmental issues for 35 years. He is an interesting character who keeps a fairly low profile but likes to get things done behind the scenes. Over these years he has been instrumental in obtaining funding from a variety of sources in order to improve community facilities where he lives. These projects have included, protecting and reinforcing the laws pertaining to common land, buying land for the community, planting woodlands, and perhaps more importantly, helping to set up a Trust whose role it is to oversee the various projects.
I was telling this friend about my work with the Countryside Service. He asked me what I thought about the suggestion that, as a volunteer I was doing someone out of a job. So this week I talked with my colleagues about this. They were adamant that, firstly there ARE no paid jobs that I am replacing. There is no money for any further posts, and so far none have been deleted. Their view was, that without volunteers, many of the jobs just wouldn't get done. But they were clear that there were other advantages to using volunteer labour, in that we have different skills and knowledge that they wouldn't otherwise have access to. Two of the other volunteers have an engineering background, so can explain the way that the stresses on a gate hinge operate, and why it has to be hung in a particular way, for example. Another is nifty with DIY skills. Me, well I make up for the lack of skill with energy and enthusiasm! Another reason why volunteers are welcome is that part of the mission of the Countryside Service is to educate the public about wildlife and environmental issues. They feel that we will go away and explain what we have learnt to other people, which is true.
From a personal point of view, I can say that the whole experience has given me an opportunity to learn new things, both knowledge and skills. I have encountered different viewpoints. I have also been able to make friends in the community which I was not able to do when working full time. I feel a tremendous sense of pride when I can walk round the countryside and see the things that I helped to make happen. Altogether it has been very enriching, in a way that other activities I might have taken up in my retirement would not be. In conclusion, I think volunteering in this context works very well for both parties.
I recently visited an old friend in Scotland who has been involved in community environmental issues for 35 years. He is an interesting character who keeps a fairly low profile but likes to get things done behind the scenes. Over these years he has been instrumental in obtaining funding from a variety of sources in order to improve community facilities where he lives. These projects have included, protecting and reinforcing the laws pertaining to common land, buying land for the community, planting woodlands, and perhaps more importantly, helping to set up a Trust whose role it is to oversee the various projects.
I was telling this friend about my work with the Countryside Service. He asked me what I thought about the suggestion that, as a volunteer I was doing someone out of a job. So this week I talked with my colleagues about this. They were adamant that, firstly there ARE no paid jobs that I am replacing. There is no money for any further posts, and so far none have been deleted. Their view was, that without volunteers, many of the jobs just wouldn't get done. But they were clear that there were other advantages to using volunteer labour, in that we have different skills and knowledge that they wouldn't otherwise have access to. Two of the other volunteers have an engineering background, so can explain the way that the stresses on a gate hinge operate, and why it has to be hung in a particular way, for example. Another is nifty with DIY skills. Me, well I make up for the lack of skill with energy and enthusiasm! Another reason why volunteers are welcome is that part of the mission of the Countryside Service is to educate the public about wildlife and environmental issues. They feel that we will go away and explain what we have learnt to other people, which is true.
From a personal point of view, I can say that the whole experience has given me an opportunity to learn new things, both knowledge and skills. I have encountered different viewpoints. I have also been able to make friends in the community which I was not able to do when working full time. I feel a tremendous sense of pride when I can walk round the countryside and see the things that I helped to make happen. Altogether it has been very enriching, in a way that other activities I might have taken up in my retirement would not be. In conclusion, I think volunteering in this context works very well for both parties.
