My first taste of uni had been the greatest.  I’d missed all the smiles and serenity that a globetrotting gap-year had supplied.  However I returned after Christmas on a new degree course and with a positive mind.  I needed something to pass time more constructively, something both challenging and rewarding.  Volunteering offered just the solution. 

The first time I ventured into SCA HQ I was greeted by smiling faces and a host of exciting opportunities.  Student Community Action is a national network of volunteer groups in student unions.  Ruth French, SCA Co-ordinator was warm and welcoming and told me of a project to spruce up a local primary school.  I jumped at the opportunity and a week later visited St Deny’s Primary School, Portswood.  A brief survey of the area and chat with Head Mistress Carolyn Fayle and plans could commence. 

The school is located in one of Southampton’s less affluent areas and many of the children rarely gain contact with greenery.  The area to be set upon comprised of grass, weeds and a recently built, but rather murky, pond.

My aim was to create a little oasis away from their dreay concrete surroundings; an educational and stimulating outdoor classroom!

Sunday 28th – Pond Plunder

Who was that jousting, what looked like a toppled tree, from the roof rack of a little white van? I wondered on arrival at St Deny’s.  “Here’s the rotting log you asked for…the creepy crawlies!” Ruth said, beaming triumphantly.

Sian Lane SCA Officer and Laura Wilkinson RAG Officer set about emptying the pond.  I soon realised I’d slightly underestimated the women-power required to empty the “slightly larger that I recalled” pond.  They grappled with their buckets and hangovers most admirably but one phone call and more volunteers were on the way.

Meantime Ruth and myself journeyed to Wyveil for what was to be the start of a garden centre road trip. Shopping is fun, especially when ones own wallet escapes unscathed.

Charter Day - Operation Ground Force

9:00 – The big day had arrived and my trusty volunteers had agreed to meet by the union at 9am.  By ten-past only two had turned up.  Slight panic mounted, as I feared the others had forsaken me in sight of the drizzle currently dampening the day.  But a few minutes later they appeared…how could I doubt the resolve of the SCA team! 

With weeding weapons packed and swords of shovelling in hand, we all piled into the minibus and away to battle.

9:45 - I assembled the motley crew for Team Talk, an insightful dialogue into the days aims, tasks and health and safety issues.  They all nodded in dreary assent and then the fun began.

10:00 – One of the volunteers had kindly donated a large self-assembled gazebo for the day.  A quick erection was the first task of the day, with dark clouds ominously veering into view and amassing overhead.

Meanwhile the rest of the team set to work de-weeding, removing the turf, trimming the infringing shrubbery and assembling the benches.

I used an illuminous yellow spray paint to mark which areas needed digging.  Unfortunately, a short while after application, it appeared green and the beds evolved entirely different to what was planned.

10:30 - Syvia Wakeman, wife of the University’s Vice Chancellor, arrived to lend a much-needed hand.  She was fantastic, full of energy and enthusiasm, and eager to get to work.  Sylvia had foolishly brought a pair of wellies, which meant she was frequently set to task in the swampy depths of the pond.

11:00 – First plants arrive.

With the help of St Deny’s star caretaker I crawled through thick undergrowth to feed a kinky hosepipe into the pond.  It teased with a trickle at first, then struggled in splutters, and finally gushed out in new life for the pond.

11.30-Break Time

Ruth had arranged a few light refreshments and I could see the guys needed a break.  So I dived into the snack bag, a treasure-trove of energy inducing chocolate treats and chilled mineral water.  I had no idea project management was so thirst quenching! 

I duly doled out the goodies to the earth encrusted, sweaty browed workers.

The beds were dug and compost had been added.  We had found a fine collection of London bricks, to much displeasure, in the subterranean never regions of our garden.  One by one they had been tossed into the ponds deep pit.  At the ready was Mrs Wakeman, still quite comfortable in her Wellington attire, and poised to arrange them into a suitable foundation for the pond-plants.

12:00 – The pond plants arrive and we transfer them into a water filled wheelbarrow in wait for the pond to fill.

So far the weather had been perfect, an energetic mix of showers and shine.

12:30 Lunch break – A chance to relax and soak up the morning’s achievements whilst nibbling on a few cheese and pickle sarnies.

A team then set to work encouraging the conifer bed to take shape.  What lies beneath? - Yet more rocks to blunt spades and strain backs.  ‘Keep up the good work’ I called as I tested the new benches for comfort and stability.  My aim for this area was to block out the sight of a housing estate; Something entirely unacceptable in the truly au naturél niche I envisaged for the kiddies!

13:00 – With a splash the pond plants go in.

14:00 – The Rock Mobile pulls up.  Our heavy package of boulders and pebbles gets hoisted skywards by crane, from the highstreet, over the fence and into the playground – all quite exciting!  Volunteers avec wheelbarrow await!

Work began on a stone pathway leading from the garden gate to the pond’s edge.  Ensuring the stepping stones were a child’s pace apart was crucial and a few of the volunteers had great fun acting out a child’s walk.

14:30 – Play Time. 

Children rocked the garden gate in intrigue and excitement, eager to catch a glimpse of their new nature garden taking shape.

15:00 – The expertly assembled benches are given their first lick of paint.  They soon dry in the sporadic sun shine and the multicoloured colour scheme proved eye catching.

The host of trees, shrubs, heather and pretty flowers were assembled.  The freshly nourished soil eagerly awaited its new residents to nurture. 

16:00 - Planting begins…and is completed.

After a rapid round of watering we were done…the garden was complete!

One or two teachers ventured out and seemed very pleased, lavishing praise and commenting on what a lovely staff garden it would make.

We dismantled our shelter, collected our things and headed home happy in the knowledge we’d made a great difference.

I sauntered back to the garden, alone, and stood a few moments embracing our creation in the freshly scented air. The volunteers had been fantastic.

We returned to the student’s union and offloaded the tools to an onslaught of inquisitive glances from the sun and alcohol-drenched horde.  Tired and muddy, we headed for the bar…after a long serious Radox ravishment of course.

The next day I returned to the school to take a group of children to sow some wildflower seeds.  They burst into their new garden in delight and immediately began to spot the wildlife.  “Look! A Bumble Bee…in the heather” one child yelled, almost prodding it to death with his stick.  A spider scuttled over the moon rock and water boatman, or pond-skaters as I was corrected dashed across the water.  It was great to see wildlife making use of their new home so soon.

Volunteering is a way of finding your interests, as well as gaining valuable skills for your future career.  If you want to get involved in the local community or have ideas for a project, don’t delay.  Go and see Auntie Ruth, the super SCA Co-ordinator, right away!  

by Sam Clements

A special thanks to B&Q for their support

 

- Picture taken by James Newton (29-04-02)

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