Getting it done — Andover Trees United

A monthly update from Paul Finch, Volunteer Champion at Andover Trees United

Hello, I’m Paul, Volunteer champion at Andover Trees United. Welcome to Getting it done.

Each month, I’ll share what we’ve been doing, introduce some of the volunteers who make it happen and explain where we need a hand. Expect practical updates, a few laughs and an honest account of the jobs still waiting for us. Anyone who works outdoors knows the list never quite gets finished.

For this first instalment, I’ll explain how I came to be here, why I keep coming back, and what all this work means to me.

Getting out and getting going

I joined ATU after losing my wife to cancer. I needed to get out of the house and do something constructive. Having somewhere to go, people to meet and a useful job waiting gave me a reason to get moving.

Grief doesn’t disappear because you’ve picked up a spade. But for me, being outside and concentrating on a task helped. Something is reassuring about a straightforward job: you can see what needs doing, get on with it and look back afterwards knowing you’ve made a difference.

Some days, that might mean planting a tree. On others, it’s tidying an area or helping with a repair. They aren’t all glamorous jobs, but they matter. Each one leaves the place a little better than we found it.

Outside does me good.

I enjoy being outdoors. The fresh air, physical work and changing surroundings give me something different from being at home. You notice things: new growth, birds calling, the ground getting softer after rain. Something is always happening if you stop long enough to look.

Working through the seasons means seeing the same place change. You become familiar with it and start to care about the details. A tree you helped plant becomes one you check on when you walk past. You want to know how it’s doing.

There’s satisfaction in going home knowing you’ve used your hands and your energy for something worthwhile. You may be tired and need to clean your boots, but you’ve got something to show for the day.

Then there’s the company. Working alongside other volunteers gives us plenty of chances to talk and laugh. Conversation comes naturally when you’re getting on with something together. That companionship is a big part of why I enjoy it.

Learning as we go

I’ve particularly enjoyed learning coppicing, hedge laying and scything. These are practical skills that take patience, and there’s always more to learn from someone with experience.

They also change how you look at the landscape. You begin to understand the work involved in looking after woodland and hedges, and why different jobs happen at particular times.

At Diamond Wood, the seasons help set our priorities. Autumn brings tree planting. Winter lends itself to tidying and repairs, and digging holes is easier when the ground isn’t baked hard.

I’m looking forward to coppicing again, with the work timed to finish before the bird nesting season gets underway. It’s another chance to put what I’ve learned into practice and keep learning alongside the team.

Building something worth caring for

What keeps me interested is knowing that we’re helping to shape a special place. I want ATU’s woods to be somewhere Andover can be proud of, and somewhere that stands out across Hampshire for the way it brings people and nature together.

That takes steady effort. Planting is part of it, but so is the ongoing care that helps a place grow and makes it welcoming.

For me, the children are central to that purpose. We’re helping to provide an environment where they can get close to nature, ask questions and discover things for themselves.

A child might notice an insect, recognise a leaf or return to see how a tree has grown. Those small experiences can build familiarity and affection. It’s easier to understand why nature needs care when you’ve spent time enjoying it.

That gives our practical work a clear purpose. We’re looking after a place where children can explore and learn, and where they can begin to see that they have a part in protecting it.

A place for more hands

In future posts, I’ll introduce other volunteers and share the jobs we need help with. I’ll explain what’s involved, what experience would be useful and where there’s an opportunity to learn.

ATU Intern carrying pots enjoys wildlife
A tiny snail perches delicately on our intern’s fingertip. It grips the ridge of her skin as it explores, antennae twitching with gentle curiosity. Around them, the soft blur of woodland greens suggests a calm moment of connection between human and nature, a quiet reminder of the small wonders that thrive in Harmony Woods.

If that appeals, get in touch with ATU. Tell us what you enjoy, what you’d like to try and when you’re available.

There’s work to do, good company to do it with and a place worth putting the effort into, and our next Volunteer Conservation Day is on Monday 26th October at Harmony Woods.

If you like the sound of what we’re doing and want to chat more, drop us an email at https://www.andovertrees.org.uk/contactus

Join our Conservation Crew

Keep in touch by signing up for our Newsletter

Paul.