To coincide with National Tree Week (27 Nov-3 Dec), on Friday 1st December, Arco - one of Hull's largest employers - supplied the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust with an enthusiastic team of volunteers comprising 9 Arco personnel, 4 asylum seekers and their co-ordinator, to help carry out vital conservation work at two sites in Cottingham.
Tony Martin, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's co-ordinator for the day, explained, 'Each year during national tree week, thousands of new trees are planted to mark the start of the winter planting season. By planting the right species in the right habitat, we can help preserve the natural balance of flora and fauna in an area. In the Cottingham project, after we had cleared overgrown brambles from between the Council's Millbeck Wildlife area and the allotments, we planted a hedgerow of Hazel, Hawthorn and Alder Buckthorn. Alder Buckthorn is a species that the diminishing population of Brimstone butterfly caterpillars depends on for survival. By planting it here, we are hoping to sustain the numbers of the butterfly. The team worked so quickly and efficiently, we were also able to plant young oak and hazel trees in a woodland area around the edges of King George V playing fields in order to improve the balance of young and mature trees.'
He continued, 'We depend on volunteers for help with practical work and we are delighted that Arco supplied such a well-organised and valuable resource for this project. Thanks to the team's hard work, we had a very successful day.'
Dawn Trafford, Arco's HR Management Information Officer, who has worked at Arco's Head Office in Waverley Street, Hull for 19 years, was delighted to be appointed Arco's team leader for the day after she volunteered for the project through Arco's annual 2-day volunteer scheme.
She said, 'This is the fourth time this year that Arco has teamed up with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to carry out environmental work in local beauty spots. Arco is actively involved in many community projects in and around the Humber region and has recently been involved with an organisation that supports asylum seekers in and around Hull. For the Cottingham project, Arco's Board of Directors decided that it would be a good idea for us to work with some asylum seekers who were keen to do some voluntary work. It was enlightening to gain a better understanding of the terrible plights of these people, and we really enjoyed getting to know them and working with them. At the end of the day, it gave us all a sense of achievement. As Cottingham is so close, we are all planning on returning in Spring to check the progress of the hedgerows and trees that we helped to plant.'
One of the volunteers, 24 year old Amanata Jalloh, is a refugee from the atrocities of the decade-long civil war in Sierra Leone, in which some 50,000 people were killed. During this period, more than 17,000 foreign troops disarmed tens of thousands of rebels and militia fighters whose trademark feature was to hack off the hands of their victims. Although the war officially finished four years ago, the problems of poverty, tribal rivalry and official corruption are far from over, with around 70,000 former combatants swelling the ranks of the many young people seeking employment.
Amanata arrived in Hull four years ago to seek a better life in the UK. A failed asylum seeker, she has been fully supported by the Methodist Church since her government benefits were cut three years ago. 'I don't want to depend on anyone,' she said. 'I feel part of this community and really want to work to support myself, but I am not permitted to do this. I was proud to be able to volunteer in the Arco scheme on Friday and really enjoyed the hard work - it felt so good to be able to give something back to the community. I was astounded by the kindness and generosity of the people involved v everyone was so nice!'
Arco has lent a helping hand at three other Yorkshire Wildlife Trust sites since July. The first voluntary community scheme day was at Flamborough Head, the second, in August, was at the North Cave Wetlands Bird Sanctuar and the third at Spurn Point.
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