Q & A with a Conservation Week Volunteer

Ella Furness is a PhD student who recently spent a week volunteering with us. Interviewed by the Big Issue for their Getaways supplement, Ella shares what makes our Conservation Weeks so special…
 

Q: How did you find out about Trees For Life, and what attracted you to getting involved?

Trees for Life used to publish beautiful diaries with photos of trees from all over the world, my mum always used to buy my one for Christmas. I was drawn to them because of their mixture of grassroots 'do-it-yourselves' and their ambitious determination to reverse deforestation in Scotland. 

Q: Tell us about a typical (and/or your favourite) experience of a Trees For Life conservation week. What’s a typical day like? Describe some of the things that you do and the best aspects and moments of the week.

The best thing about Trees for Life is the unfurling of the week as people get to know each other and bond, the hard work is mixed with deep simple pleasures of cooking together, being outdoors away from phones, TV and the news – a real digital detox. 
Socially it's amazing: You're chucked in with about 10 people you have never met and in my experience it is wonderful getting to know people who I would never otherwise meet. Everyone has their story and skills to offer and throughout the week you get to know people, have a laugh and share the satisfaction of a job well done. 
Food: The food is all vegetarian or vegan and that can be an interesting experience for people too, you cook in twos or threes and it's fun to learn to cook stuff together and a great chance to chat to people who may be more shy, or a good job to volunteer for if you're feeling a bit shy. 
Nature: Being out in nature all day everyday is wonderful, the air is clear, you learn identify plant and animals and Trees for Life make a real effort to make sure that people learn and enjoy themselves as well as do the work – planting trees, taking out invasive species, helping in the nursery… you work at you own pace, and they are always keen to answer questions and relax during the workday too. There are chances to really be peaceful and mindful in nature too, to reflect on life or just watch the wind in the trees or enjoy the sun, things that we don't often do in our everyday lives. 

Q: Is it a lot of hard work, or is there plenty of opportunity for relaxation and socialising too?

It depends what you want, you can go at it hammer and tongs, and try and plant as many trees as possible, or you can go slow and watch the eagles soaring above you as you potter about on the mountain, chatting and working. I like the working, it's great to do something physical and feel like I am using my body. You're all away together and there is as much emphasis on having a relaxing and social experience as there is on getting the work done. Trees for Life are in it for the long haul and the Caledonian forest won't be replanted in a day.

Q: What do you get out of volunteering for Trees For Life? Wouldn’t you rather spend your time off taking it easy and doing something just for yourself? 

It is enriching, it pushes me out of my comfort zone, I learn loads and it opens new doors and areas of interest, I can't walk past a tree now without wondering what it is and what animals and insects live in it. I know how to plant a tree now! I feel like I've got to know the remote areas of Scotland a little bit, got to know my home island a little bit more. I've meet people from all over the country, all ages and backgrounds, it's nice to spend a week with people in their 20s and people in their 70s all hanging out together and having a laugh. Also, it's really satisfying, you see the trees that volunteers 20 years ago planted and see what an incredible difference it has made. Life begets life and by planting trees and volunteering to help out Trees for Life I feel as though you're helping breathe a little more life into our troubled planet. 

Q: Do you do other volunteering activities or trips? If so, tell us a little bit about them as well, and how they compare with Trees For Life. 

Usually I go walking or cycling, maybe go to the beach. Those things are nice, but they aren't the same as making somewhere your home for a week and really embedding yourself in the countryside and people you're with. I have done other volunteering, but none has emphasised the learning, connection with nature and the environment, or the importance of sharing food and fun together with such commitment. I think this is Trees for Life's secret of success; fun, food, nature, social connection with some hard graft thrown in. It's almost a euphoric wholesomeness, if you can imagine something that is good for you on every level, this has got to be it really. 

Q: When you return home and to work after a Trees For Life trip, do you feel refreshed and recharged in the same way as you might after a more conventional good holiday? 

I'm always knackered! It is hard work and I like to go at it, so physically I'm tired. You arrive back on the Saturday, so Sunday is definitely a day of rest when I get home. Mentally I am renewed, it keeps me open and interested, reminds me of the simple pleasures of an outdoor wholesome healthy life and it's a proper adventure, you never know who is going to be there, or what the work or weather will be like – when do you come home from a beach holiday and feel you've grown as person? It's not a holiday, it's an adventure. The sort of adventure that should be available on the NHS!