My fond memory of Hollybush was the fantastic welcome from all concerned and the trust put in anyone prepared to have a go. When I first steered my ropey old Mark 2 escort into the car park I remember fantastic characters like Kathy Noble, Bridget Robinson, Jed Bultitude, John Preston and Jessica Duffy steering me back in a worthwhile direction. They even trusted me with a minibus full of potentially lethal tools and possibly more lethal volunteers. Were they MAD? But what was magic was that it wasn’t just about the environment. I remember a tap on the front door one wet Tuesday evening from a young woman accompanied by a thin, tall, pale, and wan looking young man who hadn’t been as fortunate as me. He had been diverted down the wrong track by the sort of drugs you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. He looked ill, shy, withdrawn and lost. We asked them in out of the rain and made them a cuppa. She asked if he could join the midweek volunteer group and we said yes – of course. There was an incredible belief amongst us all that we could help this man or at least stop him descending ever further into despair and hopelessness. There was no question of turning him away. I think he stayed involved at Hollybush for quite some time and got himself back on track. That was the magic of TCV and Hollybush – the people, the trust, the utter belief that when it came to the environment we were not just talking but doing something fundamentally worthwhile for the environment and people – and all this in the dark days of Thatcherism long before the notion of a 25 year environment plan. Hollybush was a sanctuary for me too. In my case it made me think twice about future career choices. I’ll always have fond memories of my time there. By the way – are there still Kingfishers flying up the Leeds Liverpool canal on clear cold mornings? Happy days – Thank you TCV and Happy Birthday Hollybush – Long may you all continue making a difference for wildlife and people
Written by Ian Fullilove