Helping hands: volunteering at CAT
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Throughout CAT’s near-50-year history, volunteers have been at the heart of our work. Dulcie Fairweather celebrates all that we have achieved together and gives us a glimpse into life as a CAT volunteer.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that without volunteers the Centre for Alternative Technology would not exist. The passion and hard graft of volunteers believing in an idea is how CAT was born. They came in many forms at the beginning – CAT was started by a group of committed volunteers, including engineers, architects, builders and growers, as well as those who were happy to volunteer with administration and fundraising.
Almost 50 years on, we still heavily rely on the support of dedicated volunteers – they are the glue that holds together all the moving parts. Generations of volunteers have created, shaped and enriched the site as we know it today.
My name is Dulcie, and I have the great pleasure of being the volunteer co-ordinator here at CAT.
I consider myself privileged to be in a role that has the responsibility of continuing and nurturing the volunteering legacy. It is a joy to meet and work alongside volunteers, sharing ideas and developing lasting relationships. I endeavour to build a sense of team and belonging to our volunteers, making sure they know they are valued for what they do and who they are, and that they have the opportunity to build their skills and knowledge by learning-by-doing alongside our experienced staff. Every individual brings with them unique talents, knowledge, spirit and an infectious energy that guides our work.
I started this role in the midst of the pandemic, which saw the world, and any volunteering opportunities, come to a grinding halt. Those months, when both staff and volunteers were forcibly absent, had an enormous impact on site. The bracken and brambles encroached, the tree nursery was lost in a jungle of hogweed, and a horde of Himalayan balsam descended on the meadow – not to mention the rogue sheep!
Last October, 18 months after the first lockdown, we were finally able to welcome residential volunteers back to CAT. Contributing to the upkeep of our gardens and woodlands and giving a helping hand in other key areas, these fantastic volunteers have been fundamental in getting us back on track. Not only has it been amazing to have extra hands again – the turbulence and social isolation of the last few years has made the presence and rapport of volunteers even more meaningful.
Most volunteers work with either our woodlands and water team or our gardens team. The woodlands and water team help to manage our woodlands, our off-grid water and sanitation systems and make improvements around site using our natural resources. We have 18 acres of sustainably managed woodland, so there is never a shortage of jobs to do!
Most recently, the team finished their bridge build, which involved a lot of problem solving, physical labour and, regrettably, soggy feet. This new bridge offers users of the woodland more accessibility and is much more visually pleasing than the previous structure.
Our meadow has also received a long overdue haircut: staff and volunteers have been scything the swathes of bracken, bramble and balsam that had begun to take over.
In the gardens, their green fingers have been kept busy with daily composting, harvesting for our café, and assisting with the ongoing maintenance and development of the display gardens.
The vibrancy and diversity of the gardens this summer was an incredible testament to the commitment of the gardening team. The site truly burst into life, captivating our visitors as well as providing pollinators with an abundance of pollen and nectar-rich plants. The team had to work especially hard this summer as the temperatures soared and numerous heatwaves rolled in. Consistent watering became more important than ever, but they did tremendously – I definitely didn’t envy them being in a polytunnel in 35 degree heat!
As the seasons shift, so do our primary tasks and responsibilities. The woodlands team have been preparing for the winter season by marking trees that need to felled or monitored. We leave a lot of deadwood in situ, as it’s a great source of nutrients and shelter for a wide range of species, but trees that overlook paths or parking spaces have to be carefully managed and sometimes removed.
Meanwhile, in the gardens, our leaf litter area is currently undergoing a revamp, ready to put all the freshly fallen autumn leaves to good use. There is a cycle of life contained in leaf litter – although a little hard work is involved, these fallen leaves are valuable; they can be composted, making a rich organic mulch and soil improver, given a little time and encouragement.
A “life-changing” experience
“As a mid-life career changer, coming to live and work at CAT as a residential volunteer has indeed been life-changing. It’s helped me put down roots in a new part of the world after two decades in London, and I now plan to study here and develop a more nature-focused career. All the site staff and volunteers look out for each other, it’s almost like being part of an extended family. I’ve loved my time at CAT and am excited about what comes next.” Joe Downie, Woodland and Water volunteer (October 2021 – September 2022)
“CAT allowed me the space and time to disconnect and just be, but ultimately reconnect to nature and myself. My time volunteering gave me more clarity on where I wanted to go in life, but more importantly who I wanted to be. I’m forever grateful for the experiences I had and the people I met along the way. Diolch CAT…. for being a space of regeneration, of nature and the human spirit.” Julia Robertson, Woodland and Water volunteer (October 2021 – March 2022)
Find out more about volunteering
Volunteers built the foundations of CAT almost five decades ago, and they are still at the core today – our beating heart. We welcome you to join a great team, learn a variety of skills, forge new friendships and discover nature in unique ways. Our volunteers have gone on to various paths, including green woodworking, setting up community woodlands, forestry and further degree level study gravitating around conservation, gardening and sustainability.
If you’d like to join us and be an important part of CAT’s story, click here for more information about volunteering at CAT
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