Returning to University after Christmas I was looking for something constructive to spend my time on, something both challenging and rewarding.  Volunteering offered just the solution. 

The first time I ventured into Student Community Action HQ I was greeted by smiling faces and a host of exciting opportunities.

  I jumped at the opportunity to create a wildlife garden at a local school and a week later visited St Deny’s Primary School to carry out a brief survey and discuss plans with Head Mistress Carolyn Fayle.  My aim was to create a little oasis away from dreary concrete surroundings, an educational and stimulating outdoor classroom!

Monday 30th April, University of Southampton Charter Day.  While a few thousand students celebrated Charter Day at the Students’ Union Carnival, the SCA team set to work weeding, removing turf, trimming shrubbery and assembling garden benches. Sylvia Wakeham, SCA patron and wife of the University’s Vice Chancellor, arrived to lend a much-needed hand and, having foolishly brought a pair of wellies, was set to work in the swampy depths of the pond.

After lunch the Rock Mobile arrived.  Our package of boulders and pebbles was hoisted skywards by crane, over the fence and into the playground, very exciting!  These were used to build a pathway to the pond’s edge, ensuring of course that the stepping-stones were a child’s pace apart. The host of trees, shrubs, heather and flowers were assembled and planted.  After a rapid round of watering we were done. The garden was complete!  Tired and muddy, we headed for the bar. After serious Radox treatment of course.
The next day I returned 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 boatmen dashed across the water.  It was great to see wildlife making use of their new home so soon.

Volunteering is a great 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 new project, don’t delay  - go and see SCA right away! 

Ruth French, SCA Co-ordinator & Hannah Steel, SCA Educational Projects Co-ordinator
Telephone:  023 80595209, Email: scaction@soton.ac.uk
Website:  http://action.susu.org.

A special thanks to B&Q for their support in donating £280 and assisting us in choosing tools and plants; Maidenhead Aquatic Garden for their £40 discount and Wyevale Garden Centre for their £20 gift vouchers.

Next year we’ll be building a wildlife garden at Swaythling Primary School.  Get in touch if you’d like to be involved.

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