Nurse Jenny locks in on voluntary work

26 August 2011

Willows Veterinary Nurse, Jenny Jones, recently swapped her nurse’s uniform for a hard hat and high-vis jacket in order to volunteer for the Waterway Recovery Group, a subsidiary of the Inland Waterways Association. The main aim of the group is to restore many of the derelict waterways throughout Britain which form such an important part of our industrial heritage, and which now have the potential of a new life as an enjoyable leisure facility and a haven for wildlife. Jenny (second from the right in the photo) took part in one of the canal camps in the Cotswolds which aimed to complete the restoration of one lock and start work on a second.

After a very important update on Health and Safety within the camp, Jenny was let loose on the lock. Activities such as landscaping, brick laying (and therefore lots of cement mixing!) were encountered. Surrounded by a group of 20 volunteers plenty of fun was had while hard work was also achieved. The accommodation was basic (and ear plugs essential!) but the home cooked meals certainly went down well. The working day generally ran from 9 to 5 with lots of breaks and after a hard day’s work there was optional evening entertainment to enjoy.

Many thanks go to the camp leaders Martin and George and, more importantly, to the head chef Mandy!

More information on forthcoming canal camps can be found at www.wrg.org.uk