Volunteers
Higher Ground Allendale has been supported by volunteers from the outset. Individuals and groups from a wide range of backgrounds and from across the community have lent us their time and skills. We are grateful to every single one of them. Here are a few.
Andy Morgan
Volunteer
Andy, Jane’s Dad, has been volunteering with the project since day one. He’s been a huge support, coming along weekly, rain or shine, to mow the grass, edge the paths, strim the weeds and enjoy the craic.
Andy helped construct the poly tunnels, build the pond fence and the compost bays, lent his carpentry and general fix-it skills to the repair shop in February, and has offered advice on a huge range of topics. He even refereed the snail race at the summer fair.
Judith Thornton
Volunteer
When I think of Higher Ground the word that comes to mind is Transformation:
- from waste ground to oasis
- from observing to becoming involved
- from tentative snips to a passion for pruning
- from hands pulling up weeds to hands enjoying the feel of the rich black earth
- from clean to happily dirty
- from muddy feet to smart wood chip paths
- from willow twigs to creative pursuits
- from working alone to working together
- from strangers to friends
- from seed to vegetable box
- from bud to beautiful
- from hard work to standing back and admiring the fruits of your labour
- from limitations to capabilities
- from eggs to delightful ducks
- from paint to inspiration
- from Sam and Jane’s idea to a valuable community resource!
Meg Walke
Volunteer
After reading about and observing the early progress and aims of Higher Ground, I started to volunteer in 2019. Initially I helped with the Thursday coffee mornings and found these to be lovely relaxed sessions with a few regular people. An opportunity for a chat, handcrafts and cakes were an added bonus. Sadly, just as the attendee numbers were increasing, the pandemic and lockdown happened.
Since the easing of restrictions, volunteering in the garden has been a great experience. I cannot claim to be an expert gardener and I occasionally need guidance around telling which plants are weeds – but those three hours a week fly past. Whether digging, weeding or planting, there is always helpful advice, support and lovely chat. Watching the ducks, fresh air, and a sense of time well spent, make it so rewarding.
I invariably feel that I’ve learnt and gained far more than I’ve given at each session. Those vegetable boxes on a Saturday are a nutritious delight and just maybe I contributed in some small way by harvesting some onions or planting spinach.
Directors
Jane Coulson
Project Manager
Jane moved to Allendale as a teenager and studied Psychology and Anthropology at Durham University. She completed a PgDip in Careers Guidance and Counselling, whilst working as a volunteer youth worker with underprivileged teenage girls at the Citadel in Edinburgh. She went on to case-manage adult male offenders from Saughton prison during their transition back into the community, education, training and employment. Throughout her life, Jane has always found a way to use her passion for art and craft. Her skills and experience lend themselves perfectly to Higher Ground Allendale, and to increasing wellbeing, confidence and motivation through teaching new skills and enabling like-minded people to socialise in a beautiful space.
Sam Coulson
Garden Manager
Sam grew up in Wooler and began gardening professionally in 2002, gaining an RHS General Certificate in Horticulture in 2004. He also completed an MA in Journalism at Sunderland University. After nine years of self-employment, he joined the team at Lilburn Tower, working under Head Gardener, David Sinclair, one of the most knowledgeable and respected gardeners in the country. Sam was also Head Gardener at Carntyne Residential Care Home in Hexham for two years. Having experienced mental illness, Sam strongly believes in the benefits to mental health and wellbeing that gardening can bring about. His experience, knowledge, vision and passion for a beautiful therapeutic garden is essential to the success of this project.
Ginny Swaile
Director
Ginny has a BA (Hons) in marine biology from Newcastle University and has worked in the environmental public sector for 25 years, currently as a scientific adviser to Government on topics such as marine biodiversity recovery and climate change mitigation. She moved to Allendale in 2000 and lives on an increasingly wild smallholding outside the village with her husband, three children and a variety of animals. Ginny has been involved in village life through several roles and coaches gymnastics at the primary school. Her passion for rewilding and her personal experience of the connection between mental wellbeing and the outdoors brought her to Higher Ground, where she runs the wild plant nursery, bringing nature into our community.
Andy Fletcher
Director
Andrew has been a writer, musician, researcher, barman and gardener, and was a director of the Newcastle Community Green Festival. His experiences led to an interest in the connections between creativity and mental health, and he is now a Research Fellow at [various places], working on complex systems evaluation – and stuff. Andrew plays the bass guitar quite badly and has a cat and a dog and a wife.