From the frontline: David Putt

Tell us about your job

I’m a project manager for the Jealott’s Hill Community Landshare, as part of Bracknell Forest Homes’ community investment team. This can involve anything from complex administration such as planning applications, to the pleasure of sowing flower seeds. 

We started it from scratch in 2011, after a public consultation. 

The most important aspect is making sure the site is welcoming to all, both physically and socially, with a particular focus on people with either a disability or disadvantaged background.

What is a ‘community landshare’?

Community landshare is a phrase used in other contexts, but ours gives an opportunity to the local community across East Berkshire to engage in horticultural and biodiversity activities.

Key to everything is that no one has their own plot or allocated piece of ground. One aspect of the site is for groups who have a disability background to have an area; they share the workload and their produce amongst themselves. 

We currently have 12 groups including Beavers, adults with learning disabilities, people recovering from drug and alcohol dependency, people from the Nepalese community, and those looking for work or training opportunities.  Everyone helps maintain the site, including the 450-tree orchard, vineyard, wildflower meadow, pond and sensory garden.

What is the best thing about your job?

I enjoy the diversity, richness and wide backgrounds of the people who use the community landshare, and the never-ending daily challenges.

Over nearly five years, the site has been transformed and landscaped, using very modest budgets and often relying on donated materials, to become a real focus in many people’s lives.

What is the worst thing?

It seems literally there is often a big black cloud hanging over the site and a never ending threat that our British weather conditions will spoil the work which volunteers strive hard to achieve.

But more importantly, seeing and hearing firsthand the lifestyles some really great people have to endure can be a personal challenge to leave behind at the end of the day.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out working in the charity or voluntary sector?

Having found the inspiration that makes you feel good at the end of the day, go for it with full commitment for the long term.