The Art of Hedge-Trimming for UPSU Student Led Volunteering

A friendly visitor

Our busy volunteers

Our busy volunteers

Today has been an exhausting day of volunteering for me, that's for sure, however, that has not deterred me from wanting to make being involved in the UPSU Student Led Volunteering a more regular thing. Upon meeting the rest of the volunteers and project leader Mark, I was understandably a little uncertain - meeting new people has always been a bit daunting for me - but once we arrived at the owl sanctuary, re-fueled on tea and chocolate biscuits (of which I ate too many!), and were shown around the owl enclosures, I felt I could relax a little more. But then, of course, the manual labour - the primary reason for this trip - began! 

The end result

Thanks to my dad, I already had some experience with sharp garden tools; however, what we were faced with was no simple pruning of a rose bush. These were vast hedges entwined and tangled with brambles, blackthorn, and rosehips, all viciously spiky plants. The tough gloves we were supplied with helped protect our hands, yet some of us were brazen enough to delve in with bare arms, while I regretted my tights (a magnet for those sticky burrs), my raincoat (the arms of which were soaked with sweat by lunch time), and my wellies (which weren't the comfiest footwear

It's bigger than it looks

I could've worn). Gradually, though, as we hacked, lopped, and sawed our way through from both sides, and endured scratches, spikes, and broken saw blades, the hedge grew thinner, stripped of its overhanging mass, while the pile of vegetation on the hill just grew and grew.

Such a beautiful view

As a reward for our 5 or so hours of effort, we were treated to an up-close encounter with Bailey, one of the resident barn owls (of which I have no decent photos, unfortunately, so you will have to use your imagination). As a fairly avid fan of raptors (birds of prey), it was truly an experience to have this bird glide silently over my head, creating a small gust from the downdraft of his wings, and to look into his beautiful little moon face. Around 4, the minivan returned and it was time to bid the owls and the hills goodbye and return to Plymouth.
It was truly a miracle that the weather stayed so mild and sunny for the duration of our stay, allowing us to enjoy the scenery - as well as our work. I'd like to congratulate everyone involved today on a job well done, and hopefully see you next time!