Volunteering on the land at Clervaux Garden School

Like many people who live in and around Darlington, I made occasional visits to the Clervaux Cafe in Conniscliffe Road and admired what they were doing there.  I was also vaguely aware that there was some sort of Clervaux school or training facility down the road in Croft. So, when I retired a year ago following forty years working in hospitals and universities, I did a bit of ‘Googling’ to see if there was any way I could get involved.  I knew I wanted to be a bit more ‘outdoorsy’ in my retirement, so volunteering with Ruskin Mill Trust and The Garden School at Croft seemed to fit the bill.  I met Roberto, Head of the Land Team during the school’s summer holidays.  He showed me around and was very encouraging, telling me about what the volunteers did with the Land Team.  

It took a while to complete the paperwork.  I needed to fill-in an application form, provide the names of some referees, and do an online police check.  Knowing that I would be working alongside some children and vulnerable adults I understood why The Trust needed to be careful.  From my point of view, the result was well worth the wait.

By mid-Autumn, I was ready to go.  Since then, I have really enjoyed working on the land, whether it be harvesting crops in the summer and autumn, helping make-up organic vegetable boxes to deliver to local customers, cutting back and pruning during the winter and early spring, sowing seeds in the polytunnels, or planting out in the cold frames, the herb garden, raised beds or the field as spring turned to summer.  There has also been a lot of weeding along the way. Once we have the apples gathered and we get the press out to make apple juice, I will know I have completed a full four seasons as a volunteer.  

The Land Team are very supportive of their volunteers and take the odd mistake and our lack of knowledge in their stride.  The teaching and support staff are also very welcoming and go out of their way to make us feel part of the team.  In return, I have learnt a lot about growing fruit and vegetables, I have loved the school dinners during term time and each week I have taken home a box full of assorted seasonal vegetables and half a dozen freshly laid eggs (with food inflation as it is this has become a substantial benefit derived from volunteering).

If you are thinking of volunteering, and like me have spent most of your working life inside, I would recommend digging out some thermal underwear and thick socks for the winter months and making sure you have a good hat for sunny days in the summer.  Activities are generally suited to the weather, so you are not going to go home soaked to the skin, frazzled or frozen.  All the specialist equipment you need is supplied, and speaking from my own experience, a lack of gardening skills and knowledge is no impediment.

I have really enjoyed my year, volunteering at Clervaux Garden School.  It has been one of the highlights of my new outdoorsy retirement.

Philip Warwick, Land Team Volunteer, Clervaux Garden School.