Behind every walk in the reserve, every child on a swing, and every apple picked in the orchard, there are hundreds of individual acts of kindness. This Christmas, we wanted to list 101 things our volunteers have done this year—not because we’re counting, but because we appreciate every single one of them.
The “Muddy Boots”
- Planting native hedgerows.
- Planting new trees.
- Sowing wildflower seeds for pollinators.
- Laying hedges using traditional methods.
- Trimming and shaping established hedges.
- Removing “brash” (fallen woody debris) to keep areas tidy.
- Scything the meadows to encourage biodiversity.
- Building “dead hedges” and log piles for insect habitats.
- Identifying and removing invasive non-native plant species.
- Monitoring the cattle on the reserve.
- Planning and organizing volunteer work parties.
- Unblocking drainage ditches and monitoring water levels.
- Clearing overhanging branches from public paths.
- Opening and locking gates after every work party.
- Returning again and again to long-term jobs that take years, not weeks.
The Orchard
- Pruning apple and pear trees in the winter.
- Summer pruning of stone fruit trees.
- Thinning fruit in early summer to ensure tree health.
- Monitoring tree health
- Removing diseased or fallen trees.
- Mulching young saplings to provide nutrition and reduce competing vegetation.
- Planting of new trees and installation of protective tree guards.
Science & Recording
- Building and installing bird and bat boxes.
- Cleaning and putting food out on the bird table.
- Writing updates on the Pony Wood whiteboard.
- Taking photographs for surveys and record-keeping
- Organizing and updating the digital photo archive.
- Recording biodiversity observations on iNaturalist.
- Carrying out surveys to monitor butterfly numbers.
- Creating a register of all the trees.
- Identifying “ash dieback” or other tree diseases.
- Researching the local history of the land for the archives.
Maintenance, Safety & Training
- Repairing gates and fences.
- Regularly picking up litter across all sites.
- Inspecting the footpaths for safety and accessibility.
- Checking for wind damage or fallen branches after a storm.
- Spraying fluorescent paint on dog poo to warn walkers.
- Ensuring safety checks for electrical equipment.
- Cleaning and maintaining hand tools and power equipment.
- Making sure the storage shed is always neat, tidy and safe.
- Keeping an informal eye on everything and reporting problems when “just passing through”.
- Training volunteers in the safe use of machinery.
- Undertaking training as designated First Aider.
- Providing First Aid when required.
- Keeping the First Aid kits fully stocked.
- Supervising and supporting recognised volunteer qualifications.
- Checking playground equipment for wear and tear.
- Organising for repairs to be carried out.
- Weeding and keeping the play areas tidy.
- Staining and maintaining the playground benches.
- Caring deeply about Fairfield even when no one is watching.
The Voices (Communication & Education)
- Collating content for the newsletter.
- Designing, editing and proofreading the newsletter
- Organizing the delivery routes.
- Walking the streets to deliver the newsletter by hand.
- Designing posters and leaflets.
- Arranging exhibitions.
- Keeping the physical noticeboards up-to-date
- Taking photographs for the annual calendar.
- Organising the production and printing of the calendar.
- Selling the calendar at stalls and events.
- Delivering the calendar.
- Managing the Fairfield Association social media accounts.
- Updating the website with news and events.
- Responding to queries and messages from the public.
- Creating educational resources for visitors.
- Liaising with local schools for nature projects.
- Organizing and leading educational school visits.
- Leading guided nature walks.
- Sharing knowledge and skills so they aren’t lost when one person steps back.
Events
- Running stalls at community events.
- Setting up tables, chairs and gazebos.
- Baking cakes and providing refreshments.
- Clearing up and packing away after an event.
- Opening your garden for “Open Yardens”.
- Sourcing prizes for raffles and competitions.
- Organising the Triangle Summer Fair.
- Organising the annual “Apple Day”.
- Organising the Fairfield Festival.
- Organising the annual Easter Egg Hunt.
- Counting cash and reconciling takings after events.
- Taking part in the Fairfield carol singing.
- Doing everything to organise an event only for it to be cancelled due to the weather.
Innovations
- Organising entirely new facilities such as the Cycle Hub.
Admin, Finance & Legal
- Applying for environmental and community grants.
- Organizing community consultations on new projects.
- Booking meeting rooms.
- Taking minutes at the monthly committee meetings.
- Managing the Association’s accounts.
- Planning and monitoring the annual budget.
- Providing monthly and annual financial reports.
- Paying suppliers and contractors promptly.
- Managing the membership database.
- Ensuring Public Liability Insurance is up to date.
- Reviewing health and safety risk assessments for all tasks.
- Ensuring data protection responsibilities are met.
- Managing “Gift Aid” claims on donations.
- Liaising with the local council and authorities.
- Keeping policies up to date (even when nobody wants to read them).
- Making regular donations as a “Fairfield Friend”.
And finally…
- Drafting a Christmas list of 101 reasons to be thankful!