Team is a 12 week personal development programme run by the Prince’s Trust. Young people join a Team from a variety of backgrounds and, after a few weeks of bonding and team-building embark on a National Trust property for a new challenge and to experience the satisfaction of making a positive contribution to their community. Below are just some of the experiences of a National Trust partnership in this programme.

• Saltram
  The 16-strong Team recreated a planned 18^th century folly designed by Robert Adam that was never built in the gardens at Saltram.  They also created footpaths in the garden so visitors can see a WW2 bomb shelter. “It has been fantastic to host the young people at Saltram and we have really appreciated the great work they have done for us” (Penny Hammond, Head Gardener).

• Ormesby
  The Team were given the task of turning a narrow, muddy woodland route into a pathway accessible to motorised buggy users, which would also give disabled access to a section of the estate’s Orienteering Course. The young people were seen to work “with tremendous determination and speed, shifting load after load of chippings, to complete the entire 250m length of path in only eight days” (Liz Hayward, Learning and Access Manager)

• The Team at Trengwainton researched and constructed an array of bird boxes to encourage nesting in the wooded areas of the property.  Three different types of boxes were produced and handed over to the National Trust. “Each group have put effort and energy into their tasks. It will create an opportunity for us to monitor what actually nests there and could provide local schools with a focus for a study of the habitat and the birds that live within it” (Ian Wright Head Gardener).

• Early this year a Team from around Exeter had a great time conducting conservation work on the Killerton Estate which offered the opportunity not only to have a positive impact on the environment but also to have lots of fun. One participant remembered “the Tree Ceremony on the Killerton Estate which involved the breaking and sharing of the communal Twix whilst surrounded by wafts of incense and reading a selection of topical verses” as the highlight of her 12-week experience! Alongside all the fun young people were pushed out of their comfort zone and struck by the “values of community work” (Team participant)

• Hardwick Hall
  The Team planned and constructed a children’s balancing play area, adjacent to the footpath around the lake, near to the Park Centre. They had the use of an out building near the Hall where they could work out how they would carry out the task and produce designs for the balancing post. The wardens team supported them in setting the posts in the ground and ensuring that they would be stable enough to withstand use. The delivery partners from Derby College prepared them by giving them specific roles and tasks which they took seriously. The work was finished on time to a tight schedule and the handover was a very lively affair with the Lord Mayor’s attendance. The Team demonstrated a sense of ownership of the finished work wanting to defend it from irresponsible dog owners.