Antony’s Volunteering Story
The Quantock Landscape Partnership Scheme (QLPS) is a £2.6m, 5-year project in and around the Quantock Hills, the project area is some 400 square kilometres. The QLPS is all about looking after the Quantock landscape. It is focussed on partnership working – bringing a diverse range of interests together to make a real difference to people and place.
As part of the QLPS, there are multiple projects. This includes restoring hedgerows, historic features and traditional orchards through to educational work with local schools, archaeological excavations, archival research, and a wide ranging and inclusive events programme.
The scheme aims to protect and restore the distinctive features of the Quantock landscape; improve management of the access pressures on the Hills; and make the health and wellbeing benefits of recreation more available to communities in the surrounding towns and villages. The Scheme is also working to increase the resilience of organisations, communities, and individuals to increase the skills of the volunteer base in the area, whilst giving more people opportunities to get involved.
The QLPS is mostly funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with additional funding from the Hinkley Point C planning permission agreement, the National Trust and Friends of the Quantocks. Some funding is also provided by and the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty unit itself, and it is this unit that also hosts and leads the scheme. There are 5 staff team members working as part of the QLPS assisted by partner organisations, local people and communities, as well as a wide variety of contractors.
Jenny Oliver of the Central Volunteer Team spoke to Antony to chat about his experience of being a Quantock Landscape Partnership Scheme Volunteer. Antony is a Digital Heritage Assistant volunteer and has been volunteering for two and a half years.
What does your volunteering role involve?
I work with all the QLPS team, helping with guided walking tours, filming work, taking part in archaeological digs and working on the Quantocks LiDAR project. I have also recently done some photography in a church yard which involved working with the South West Heritage Trust too.
Why did you start volunteering?
It was mainly down to my interest in archaeology, an interest that I have had for most of my adult life. I saw a Facebook post, put my name forward, and as I am a videographer, they were particularly interested in that, and it snowballed from there really! I do get paid for the filming side of things so this is not part of my volunteering.
What keeps you volunteering?
The variety of projects that I’m getting involved with. The people within the QLPS team and what they are doing. To have built up this connection between the general public and the living, breathing, Quantock landscape highlighting its history, its beauty and its importance cannot be underestimated.
What is your favourite thing about volunteering?
If I had to pick one thing, I’d say the archaeology. To have had the opportunity to be involved with, literally, uncovering the past is something that I will always be grateful for.
What difference has volunteering made to you?
I have made friends in the team itself, and with the other volunteers in my village and across the Quantocks.
What would you say to someone who has never volunteered?
Just do it! By getting involved you will learn so much, make so many friends, and have so many opportunities that you wouldn’t normally get. There are also other organisations that I’ve been involved with, solely as a result of this volunteering, that I would never have had access to otherwise.
Can you think of a good strapline to describe your volunteering?
Volunteering, don’t even think about it! Get involved and just do it!
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I’ve seen, first-hand, the work that the QLPS has been doing to bring together people, to help and encourage people to visit the Quantocks and experience all of the benefits to their physical and mental health that it brings. They have made such a difference to so many people. There is a huge need for it, and if I look back at what they have achieved with such a small team, it’s incredible.
To find out more information about this role and others – click here. What are you waiting for!