Heather (she/they)
Trustee & ResidentCould you tell us about your role and responsibilities at Braziers Park?
As a lodger I don’t have a set role, but I have a variety of things I do around the place. A recent new development is that I make YouTube videos about what it is like to live at Braziers Park. I think it is really hard to capture what it is like to live somewhere easily, so I figure these videos will help people explore the aspects they are interested in. Other than this, I am passionate about nature and conduct and organise wildlife surveys. Most recently, I brought the Fungus Society of Oxfordshire and we found more waxcaps in our fields than they had found anywhere else. I also love making things from our natural surroundings, from spinning and dying wool to making baskets out of willow. I love the endless opportunities for working and learning together which exist here.
How would you describe the community at Braziers?
Most prominently, ever changing. Even without new members coming and old ones leaving, those who are here morph and change as they stay. It is fascinating to observe the dual relationship – how the legacy of Braziers Park impacts the current community, but then how the current community goes on to shape the future legacy. Currently, I would say the community is dynamic, fun-loving but also conscientious and keen to explore all facets of our relationship, as the founder would say “becoming conscious of the system of which we are a part”. Another aspect prominent at the moment is the juxtaposition of the urgency to make Braziers a “going concern” in the current financial crisis with a persistent desire to buck conventional trends and embody the values of not only the current members, but also the ghosts of those who have shaped Braziers as it is today. Each member in the community brings different and valuable angles on all these problems and as such, make up a dynamic, sometimes chaotic, self reflective body.
Is there anything you would like to change at Braziers or any challenges to overcome – if so, could you tell us about it?
Braziers Park is a bit like Iceland. In Iceland they say – if you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes. Similarly, If you are not so happy with the current vibe at Braziers, just wait and things will always move on. This can be refreshing, but it can also be exhausting. I think one challenge is finding the bedrock to keep you stable, especially after being here for very long. Another challenge can be finding space for yourself. It can be pretty busy and often need to field a confused visitor question when you would really rather just have some peace after a hard day. No doubt the benefits outweigh the challenges though, with never a dull moment and plenty of new interesting people to meet, the wonderful depth I engage with my friends here, I would not want to be anywhere else.
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Explore Heather’s YouTube channel, where she shares insights into her life at Braziers Park: