“An unforgettable day” for London kids visiting South Downs
February 11, 2025
Nicola Garrard is a teacher at Minority Matters, a school which offers free maths and English classes to struggling families. The Fittleworth resident recently helped to organise a trip to the National Park for 17 children from London. Here she describes the day and its profound impact on the young people.
A group of five girls and thirteen boys from London visited Hesworth Common, near Fittleworth, to volunteer their time and learn more about the beautiful South Downs National Park.
Led by Clive Murray (who helps manage Hesworth) and local Scoutmaster Kevin MacKenzie, they enjoyed a day of exciting new experiences and tough physical challenges: using loppers, bow saws and pruning saws; cutting rhododendron and building a dead hedge; pulling up birch and pine seedlings to protect the heather.
The children, aged between 11 and 15 years, come from Finsbury Park, where they attend a school called Minority Matters, which in addition to free Maths and English classes, offers mentoring, parent support groups, and CV skills building to struggling families.
The children were stunned by the natural beauty of Hesworth Common but most of all, they loved meeting walkers’ pet dogs. They threw themselves into hard work and made the most of the opportunity to learn new skills and develop confidence. The teenage boys, in particular, were thrilled to be asked to cut down a small tree in sections using saws, to allow the heather beneath it to flourish. They showed great maturity and listening skills as they learned to work safely with the equipment.
The weather couldn’t have been more perfect with cloudless blue skies and bright autumn sunshine! Between volunteering activities, the children had some time to rest, eat a picnic at the viewpoint, identify leaves and run around. They continued working until the light began to fade and enjoyed hot chocolate and biscuits in front of a beautiful sunset.
A huge thank you to Fittleworth neighbours who loaned essential equipment, and Clive, Kevin, and the adult volunteers from London who gave up their Sunday to give these children an unforgettable day, instilling a love of nature and the importance of protecting it for the future.
And, of course, thank you to the children themselves for working so enthusiastically for a place so far from home!