On browsing Ciao I was very surprised to find no other reviews on the National Trust working holiday experience.
I did one last year and loved it! Admittedly, I didn't even do one for fun - although I had lots - but it was an easy way to complete my Duke of Edinburgh Award. Now, I would strongly consider going again, this time for fun.
The holidays can be found on an easy to navigate website, or you can request a brochure. The booking staff were extremely efficient with me - I needed a working holiday at short notice, (ie a couple of days beforehand), and the next day all the relevant information was on my doormat. I was met off the train and although I had booked last notice it was all taken care of.
It cost me about £50 for a week, food, accommodation, and equipment included. Very cheap! You also get a free year's membership of the National Trust (in itself a great saving) and a regular magazine for volunteers.
My project was moat clearing - and yes, I did get to stand waist deep in bright yellow waders and I even have the amusing photos to prove it. I got to work on a beautiful property, alongside an interesting, friendly bunch of people from all different walks of life, under the guidance of expert gardeners. There are approximately 12 ona team, although it can vary, and normally the male/female split is quite even. Our team had people from other countries who had come across especially, so you can see how much some people enjoy these. I had never done any conservation work before, in fact most of us hadn't, so you don't need experience.
My accommodation was in a large, warm, comfortable "base camp". We had small lounge, large kitchen, and were sharing about 2-3 people per room. Everyone shared tasks - for example, there is a cooking rota. All tasks were properly explained and supervised. The National Trust were keen to see we really had a "holiday" too, so it was not all work. We had a whole day off for sightseeing, splitting into about 3 groups. Some off us went to the seaside, others visited another property, and others went off to a wildlife sanctuary. We all went to another property together on the last day using our free membership cards, and had a group meal, with the younger ones of us going for drinks in the pub.
It may sound cliched but it was a fantastic experience working alongside complete strangers and watching it gell as a team. We ranged in age from 18 to 60 and everyone got on so well. We had a lot of laughs and I will never look at moats the same way again!
I would thoroughly recommend it, unless your idea of a holiday is lying on a beach all day doing nothing, or dressing up in your posh frocks.
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