The positive effects of being close to nature and working in woodland are no more apparent than for two young people who have joined a park friends group in Nottingham.
The Friends of Rushcliffe Country Park group in Ruddington is a relaxed and sociable group who help maintain and conserve the parkland. Wood carving, hedge laying, protecting the lake and pruning trees are just some of the tasks undertaken over the years, all under the supervision of the rangers on site.
A newcomer to the group is 21-year-old Sam who has Asperger Syndrome and openly admits he has suffered with mental health problems for years and needed a new focus.
He said: “I haven’t been in a good place in recent months. I spent a year in my room on my own and watch a lot of TV. I get bored and my mind goes; I go stir crazy at home.”
Police plan to recruit 60 additional officers this year to fight crime
He is encouraged by his dad David, 56, and they are both put to work stuffing straw into nets to make sausage shaped booms to go into the lake. The barley straw helps break down the toxic blue green algae prevalent in summer months.
Sam said: “I really want to do something and volunteering is ideal for me. This gets me out and does me good.”
David, who lives with Sam and his wife in Nottingham said: “He suffers with anxiety and the key is to take baby steps. There are a lot of mental health problems among young people but there needs to be more services for them.”
Nottingham's luxury dressing gown maker to the stars Daniel Hanson has died
Friends founder member Jean Gray, 83, who lives in Ruddington, wants to show off the group’s latest project. Through a carved wooden archway in a corner of the park is the Garden of Friendship, a delightful quiet space with wildflowers, a pond and benches featuring carved animals and insects on the seat backs, all done by group members.
A former teacher at James Peacock School in Ruddington, Jean's involvement started 21 years ago when she responding to a notice in a village newsletter.
She helped set up the group with just five other people . At that time there was just one workshop on site and one of her first tasks was to organise 30 seven-year-old pupils to help plant trees near the Asher Lane entrance.
She ended up being treasurer for 20 years. The park's bat hibernaculum, even featured on the BBC children’s TV show Blue Peter.
Full list of candidates for Rushcliffe Borough Council elections
Jean admits the work in the 21-acre park has been good for her. She retired in 1994 and soon after her husband Terry died suddently. “It has kept me going,” she said. And more people want to join and get in the fresh air and keep the park looking good for the 250,000 visitors a year. In the last 12 months, the group’s membership has reached 60 - all who contribute. Jean said: “Visitors come to the park, see the work we do and tell us that when they retire, they will join us. And they do.”
Other recent projects include planting an orchard of 55 apple trees made up of 15 different ancient varieties at Millfied, so-called because it is on the site of a former windmill.
And when it came to Jean’s 80th birthday, members helped plant 31 trees down a new 'Jean’s Way' avenue.
Against the noise of steam trains at the heritage railway and museum Great Central Railway (Nottingham) next door, tree planting rarely stops. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust recently gave the group 400 whips, or small saplings, all native British species. Hedge-laying finished a few weeks ago to allow the birds to get on with building nests.
Cash and free theme park tickets to appear in 'magical' tree in Nottingham city centre
Another member David Richardson, 65, has been retired from his job as a HR professional for three years. He said: “You can do as much work or as little work as you like. I wish I had found this place earlier. We get 25 to 30 people each week helping out and 20 volunteers run the cafe which is open on the first and third Sunday of the month.” The cafe staff are always on the look-out for volunteer servers and people to bake cakes.
David said: “The benefits of this friends group are numerous. Good company, no hierarchy, there is always someone to help, you are often outdoors and doing something for the benefit of the community. I love being outside. We all do.”
Gary Hart, 57, worked in IT and lives in Keyworth. He said: “There is something about volunteering. You are not against the clock, not being paid and there is a freedom to it. I have tried a lot a things, using skills I never thought I had. I have done wood carving and love photography and help run the Friends Facebook site." Here is a record of the tasks completed, 151 at the last count.
Johns Youngs is in his mid-70s and lives in Keyworth. He sees the benefits of the scheme at first hand. He said: “A lot of people are inactive and some live alone and may feel lonely. The walks - of many speeds and distances - has a big effect on mental wellbeing.”
Behind the scenes of this Midlands water park's £10 million expansion
Volunteer Rosemary Dove’s specialities is pond surveys and she regularly dips the five ponds on the park checking on frogs, toads and insects.
Some educational areas for schoolchildren are not open to the public and the group is getting ready for Easter activities with egg hunts, den building, and mini beast hunting.
Rosemary says there are 1,652 different living species in the park. And that is why she urges visitors to take care. She said: “We do ask people to respect the environment and not let their dogs jump over fences and run into the woodland to make sure the foxes, badgers and hares are not disturbed.
Steve Brown, 38, is a seasonal ranger and is another volunteer of many years standing. He said: “I once spent a week working in an office and another week in a factory. This job outdoors suits me and is better for you. What is great is that everyone has the same interest.”
Ranger Chris Davies is regularly spotted working in the park with his sheepdog Oscar. He also used to volunteer and eventually got a full-time job. He said: “We couldn’t do without the friends group. We couldn’t get through the amount of work we do and would have to pay contractors."
The group fund-raises too to buy equipment and has received grants totalling £160,000 over the years, including from the Co-op which gave money for a water pump and sugar for the bees in the winter months. Chris said: “It is nice because visitors like to talk to us and complement us.” Right on cue, a woman walking by stops to tell him how much she enjoyed the Garden of Friendship.
*The names of Sam and David have been changed to protect their identity.
