Stories from the Edge - Volunteer Now

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point having the cuckoo plant flower in July because there will be no Orange Tip butterflies around to feed off its nectar andperpetuate both the plant and its own brood," Terry said.Modern farming methods and the pressure from markets and supermarkets have unwittingly conspired in the destructionof many native species of insect and plants. Terry is determined to build up a gene bank to conserve the plants. Already athis base at the rear of Belvoir Park Hospital two glass houses are filled with … weeds growing happily away. Terry's loyalteam of five other volunteers potter about among the hundreds of trays of 1000s of young plants. Each tray is carefullymarked and handled as if they were extremelyrare shop plants. The idea of making moneyfrom weeds is a possibility, Terry said, but hedoubts he is a millionaire in the waiting.“nature is smarterthan most people think”The young weeds are sold onto schools andother institutions interested in perpetuatingthe native plants. Terry's volunteers haveproduced a modest catalogue with the help ofrelatively cheap computer technology. It readsas a ‘what's what’ of the country's many wildflower species.The plants grow from locally collected seedsuch is the tight relationship between the plant soil and insect life. Seeds collected in other parts of Britain or Ireland mightnot complement the unique conditions in north east Ireland and vice versa. There is no point in picking and mixing this orthat plant. There is a choice of mixes for either woodland Spring or Summer meadow, wetland or even a coastal mix. Forexample woodland mix is composed of Foxgloves, greater Stitchwort Dog, violets, primroses and so on. Exactly what someonewould expect to find in that environment. It is only after many years that Terry Harvey has come to finally appreciate nature'sconfiguration of the countryside. "Nature is smarter than most people think," he keeps repeating as he shows off hisweed nursery.Then comes the question that all volunteers are asked, ‘ Why do you do it?’ Terry thinks for a minute. "Why not?" he answersthe question with a question. He believes he and the other Conservation Volunteers have helped change people's attitudestowards their environment in the last two decades. Despite the passing of time his enthusiasm is still very real, according toTerry who shoots off a list of some of the many bright young volunteers who have worked and continue to work changingthe environment and the people who live in it.Their efforts to show the benefit of trees have been recognised by the Industrial Development Board. In the past the IDBcreated featureless industrial parks which resembled deserts with warehouses sat here and there or concrete jungles withsharp angles that jar the perception. Now that policy has changed and existing trees are kept where possible, and new treesplanted. He is currently working with top Ulster firm Shorts who now want to plant several hundred trees in the jumbogrounds surrounding the east Belfast plant.
It’s not just local companies, Conservation Volunteers have also targeted the schools and find that there they get their mostpassionate and animated helpers and it's not just the kids who love digging around in the dirt. Conservation Volunteersencourages the mums, dads and grandparents to go to the green gym. Digging, planting and other forms of outside spadework are good exercise. No one knows better than Terry Harvey who suffers from breathing problems and believes it’s theoutdoor exercise that is keeping him in shipshape condition.Again he emphasises the need for people to add quality to their town and city lives. "There is no point worrying about natureif there is not a knock on effect for people and this is what the Conservation Volunteers is about … people," he again insists.
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Martin O’Hagan1950 - 2001This boo
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on the same level as the coverage o
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There were many others. A group of
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I love people seeing me as a person
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harsh conditions. Towards the end o
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Despite being a Paralympic champion
Page 17 and 18: “I love collecting. I lovemeeting
Page 19 and 20: There is no doubt that in the last
Page 21 and 22: It’s an excuse to play radios - G
Page 23 and 24: established and the walker was guid
Page 25 and 26: Hugh Campbell“the payback isthat
Page 27 and 28: By 1979 Hugh Campbell’s volunteer
Page 29 and 30: The second ceasefire was called and
Page 31 and 32: Never do anyone a bad turn and help
Page 33 and 34: quick to give assurances to those w
Page 35 and 36: and was helping to take care of the
Page 37 and 38: “Something had tobe done”Amind
Page 39 and 40: The woman who had lost out so much
Page 41 and 42: A new and interesting adventure - L
Page 43 and 44: local tea houses and meeting other
Page 45 and 46: “A place of enormouscontradiction
Page 47 and 48: Martie Rafferty was one of those wh
Page 49 and 50: A Traveller on the inside talking a
Page 51 and 52: section of Ireland’s population m
Page 53 and 54: on the news bulletins. Most weekend
Page 55 and 56: “ Play is also learning ”Austin
Page 57 and 58: She has worked in the bank for the
Page 59 and 60: A people and a nation can be judged
Page 61 and 62: "Now that it is past its best it is
Page 63 and 64: continuum. The other end is the ugl
Page 65 and 66: “One man’s weed isanother man
Page 67: efforts have caused a huge rise in
Page 71 and 72: We are getting something out of thi
Page 73 and 74: Before long, the group had agreed o
Page 75 and 76: “ People helping people ”Jerome
Page 77 and 78: quick to reject any form of ‘ism
Page 79 and 80: Through volunteer work an individua
Page 81 and 82: some it looked as if the Time was N
Page 84: Tel: 028 9023 6100 Fax: 028 9023 75
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