Digging, laughing and singing together in the Dorset countryside

Mary Stewart reports on this year’s ‘Lifelines’ hedgerow planting experience at Hilfield Friary in Dorset.

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A group of us from St James’s has just returned from an amazing weekend in north Dorset as part of the Lifelines project – an enterprise that was set up three years ago by St Ethelburga’s, a London-based charity that works to guard the climate while promoting peace.  The purpose of Lifelines is to bring together faith and community groups with farmers, to plant hedgerows.  Here are just a few highlights and reflections on a memorable and remarkable weekend …

We worked alongside an eco-feminist community group, ‘What’s Feeding Me?’, based in London that’s committed to social justice and environmental activism, as well as two people from St Ethelburga’s where it all began – 20 of us in total – with a wonderfully wide range of background, life experience and age including two incredibly cheerful and hard-working 10 years olds, some group members in their sixties and seventies and every decade in between.

We were lucky enough to stay at Hilfield Friary, an intentional community that includes four Brothers who are part of the Society of St Francis (SSF), lay members, staff and two families who all work together to offer generous, warm and kind hospitality, whilst tending 50 acres of land.  On Saturday morning some of us joined the Brothers for their daily shared silence – 30 minutes of quiet reflection in the early dawn, in their beautiful prayer-filled chapel lit only by a few candles.

The way in which everyone came together to plant the hedgerows was amazing.  For most of us this was our first experience of a Lifelines weekend, and within an hour or so on Saturday morning we were all working together in a spirit of cheerful and enthusiastic teamwork.  There were marker points to be placed, holes to be dug, young plants (known as whips) to be tucked gently into those holes (a wonderful mix of hazel, blackthorn, honeysuckle, dogrose, hawthorn and more besides), and mulch to be spread around all the whips to give them the best chance of getting established before some of the more tenacious weeds take hold.  It was hard but deeply satisfying work.

The weather on Saturday was absolutely gorgeous – bright, sunny, and with a bit of gentle, early spring warmth.  It could not have been more different on Sunday with horizontal rain (literally) and gusty wind, and though we all got very cold, soaked to the skin, and covered in mud it was totally exhilarating.  We finished our work with a rousing rendition of ‘Sing John Ball’ led by Bryony in the still-pouring rain, with lots of enthusiastic foot-stomping plus dancing from Sarah (though I’ve no idea where she found the energy!).

On Saturday afternoon Richard, the farm manager, took us on a tour.  It was very moving to hear his quiet passion for, and dedication to the land.  He explained the vital importance of hedgerows as a source of food and shelter for innumerable species of birds, animals and insects including some, such as the Duke of Burgundy butterfly and Bechstein’s bat, which are endangered nationally but are thriving on the farm thanks, in part, to the way the land is tended and protected.  Richard really helped us to understand the rich life of the soil and the global web of connectedness that exists under our feet.

The name Lifelines, that is given to the overall project, could not be more appropriate.  The hedgerow that we planted will, hopefully, live, grow and thrive for many, many years.  It felt like an extra blessing having the children in our group – not just because of their energy and humour, but also because they represent the future and are part of the reason why hedgerows are so important.  Most of all, the weekend was also deeply life-giving for all of us who were involved.

Finally, the weekend was a powerful reminder of the rich glory and diversity of God’s creation, and the need for each of us to do all we can to guard and celebrate its beauty.  On Sunday morning Brother Hugh, one of the Hilfield community, gave a sermon reflecting on the need for creating hedges rather than walls.  He ended his sermon with an additional verse he had written for the hymn ‘God’s spirit is in my heart’.  Enormous thanks to Hugh for allowing me to quote the verse here:

 

God’s Spirit is in my heart

He has called me and set me apart

This is what I have to do

What I have to do

 

She sent me to give the Good News to the ground

Tell wildlife to flourish and be safe and sound

Give space to the hedgerow and tree,

each dormouse and bird to be free,

And go tell life on earth

That all human beings now see its worth

And go tell life on earth

That each of us values its worth