Student volunteers to share love of countryside with others

Posted 13 July 2017

Second year Harper Adams University student Scott Higgins from Newbury, Berkshire, has a real passion for the countryside and has taken on a number of voluntary opportunities to share this love with a range of people.

The 21 year-old BSc (Hons) Countryside and Environmental Management student said: “My love for the countryside stems from my family, especially my grandfather, and watching how they regarded wildlife, agriculture and the environment around them.

“I enjoy sharing this passion with others and seeing them becoming immersed in the natural environment.

'I've volunteered with Growing2gether, a fantastic organisation which works with disabled adults, enabling them to participate in meaningful work, such as; selling their own vegetables and fruit to help fund the charity. Growing2gether also works with children getting them excited about the countryside and growing their own produce.

“I also helped children engage in bug hunts and pond dipping. It was great to see them getting enthusiastic about nature and the countryside.

“Working with people with disabilities is something I find very rewarding. I’ve also taught children with disabilities, namely Downs Syndrome, how to cycle. It was great to see them overcome their fears and achieve more than they ever thought they could.

“Now I’m using my role as the chairman of the Field Sports Society at Harper to try help fellow students experience field sports. Especially those who might not do so otherwise. It’s a great opportunity to pass on my enthusiasm for the sports which greatly contribute to the countryside.”

In the future, Scott hopes to become an agronomist working in testing and development of new agrochemicals.

To help him achieve this, he has been awarded the Mays-Smith Scholarship.

On the scholarship, he said: “I’d like to thank the Mays-Smith Scholarship panel for giving me the opportunity to better myself and to better utilise the facilities offered by the university. It means a lot to me.

“One of the most important benefits at Harper is the opportunity for betterment of your skills. This opportunity comes in the form of both subsidized land-based skills courses and the amount of time which could be used to engage in external courses.

“The scholarship will help me to engage in more of these types of courses by providing funds for my entry. It will also provide financial support enabling me to focus to a greater level on my studies.”