Six students from Durham University have swapped studying for conservation as a part of a national charity campaign.
The group, all on unrelated courses, spent the day at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, tending to more than 200 acres of parkland and woodland with the experienced grounds team from Auckland Castle Trust.
Working alongside the Trust’s Production Garden Manager, Ian Legge and Senior Park Ranger, Alan Anderson – who is currently shortlisted in a public vote for VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar of the year – the students flexed their green fingers to mark the start of Student Volunteer Week 2017.
Among their biggest tasks was helping to gravel the area around the Georgian Gothic Deer House, managed by English Heritage, which remains one of Auckland Park’s most popular landmarks.
“It was fantastic to have the students on site,” said Senior Park Ranger, Alan Anderson. “They were all very enthusiastic and didn’t mind getting their hands dirty. Hopefully they will be proud of what they achieved in such a short space of time and our visitors will appreciate the results when they visit the park and Deer House.”
Student Volunteer Week, now in its 16th year, is designed to encourage students across the UK to volunteer in the community they study in and develop new skills. It is co-ordinated at Durham University by Student Community Action (SCA), which runs more than 60 student volunteering projects all year round.
Hannah Finney, SCA Queen’s Officer at Durham University, said: “We offer opportunities for Durham University students to volunteer at a wide range of projects throughout the academic year, from running elderly tea parties and litter picking to tutoring GSCE students and horse riding with disabled adults.
“Student Volunteering Week is a great opportunity for us to concentrate those efforts and to showcase the important contribution student volunteers are making to the local community. Auckland Castle is certainly one of the most spectacular settings our students have worked in and the group had an amazing day learning a great deal about horticulture, conservation and heritage too.”
Auckland Castle, which served as a private palace for the Prince Bishops of Durham for more than 900 years, is currently at the centre of a £70m redevelopment programme, supported by HLF, designed to create jobs and apprenticeships and revitalise Bishop Auckland.
While Auckland Castle itself is closed for restoration, the 200-acre Auckland Park, where the students volunteered, remains open and free to access.
More information about the park and Auckland Castle’s Future Plans can be found at www.aucklandcastle.org, alongside details of how to vote for Park Ranger Alan Anderson to be named National Tourism Superstar 2017.
Further details about Student Volunteer Week are available at https://www.studentvolunteeringweek.org/