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David Birds Grounds Maintenance Chargehand South Hams Council


What does your job involve? I oversee the management and upkeep of local public spaces, play parks and woodlands. I have a team of 14 or so in the summer and seven in the winter. On a typical day we could be cutting grass, spraying weeds, taking down trees or planting bedding plants in places like the Royal Avenue Gardens.


How often do you get your hands dirty? I do have quite a bit of paperwork to do but I also have my rounds. In the summer you are most likely to find me on a sit-on mower.


What are the highs and lows of the job? Well, pardon the pun but the high is probably being at the top of a tree - I get to see a lot of beautiful and unusual views that most people will never see. I do sometimes have to stop myself for a minute or two and look around at the beautiful Dartmouth and Kingswear scenery. I have a catalogue of tree top photos on my mobile! The worst bit has to be picking up unpleasant things off the ground like dog poo and needles. We don’t have a big problem with needles in the South Hams but there are a few hot spots, luckily we are equipped with big gloves and litter pickers.


Are there any surprising parts of the job? We deal with items that have been washed up on the shore. Sometimes that means dolphins or porpoises. It’s sad to see them lying there. We have to ring a contractor who comes to take them away either for analysis or to be disposed of. One time we were faced with hundreds of starfish that were washed up at Slapton, after a while they really started to smell!


How long have you worked for the council? 10 years. I used to be a roofer but I got too big and clumsy to be climbing about on top of high buildings!


Is your own garden immaculate? It is quite tidy, yes. I have got a bit of a country cottage theme.


Will you get time off at Christmas? We get a few days. Our department has to be on call as there could be winter related problems to deal with like trees coming down.


What would you do if you won the lottery? (Without a moment’s hesitation!) I would buy a villa in Cancún and a New York apartment and then travel around. I would, of course, work out my notice - I am a dutiful employee! I have seven children so I would have to make sure they all get their share.


Do you get much free time with seven children? Not a lot! I also have eight grandchildren. I play darts on a Friday night - I’m in the Torbay Premiere League. I also do a bit of geocaching with the kids. It’s like orienteering but all on your phones using GPs. You look for things that people have hidden under rocks or up trees, it’s great fun and you can literally play anywhere. We play around local woods and up on the moor.


Megan Cooper Assistant at Dartmouth Library (funded by Devon County Council)


What’s it like being a librarian?


Very satisfying. We get to help so many people who walk through the doors each day. It’s a place for young and old to meet and socialise. Gone are the days when visitors were expected to be quiet and librarians spent their time shushing everyone! It’s a very positive place to work. What are your first jobs when you start work?


I’m usually in by 9.30am. The first tasks are to find and send off books other libraries have requested and sort the ones our readers have requested from elsewhere. We have a little back room where we make tea and coffee which is a good start to the working day.


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