Ian Hextall gave a most interesting and sometimes humorous talk about his work as a National Trust Volunteer. The National Trust owns some 7770 acres in North Pembrokeshire alone with very few fully employed Rangers overseeing its’ management thus volunteers are a very important labour source. The Southwood Estate is one of Ian’s favourite Trust properties he gives guided tours of the farmhouse and works alongside others on the land to include weeding the farmyard by hand, no herbicides are permitted! With reference to an old Ordnance Survey Map it could be seen hedgerows had been removed leaving a large open field the Trust decided to reinstate the hedges, the work of planting many hundreds of trees fell to the Volunteers, the time of year chosen November, Ian showed a photograph of said Volunteers looking decidedly like mud larks!
The National Trust helps to maintain and reinstate important historical sites for future generations to enjoy but it became apparent during Ian’s talk the Trust would struggle without the help of its’ many Volunteers.
Penny Thomas 7th February 2019