If You Build It, They Will Come: A Picture of Community at The Ranch
16/09/2025
By Jen Lister, Children’s Link Worker
If you build it, they will come – this quote from the movie Field of Dreams has inspired many. But this Summer we turned it on its head at The Ranch – ‘If they come they will build it’!
Over six weeks in June and July, a group of Year 6 boys were joined by volunteer mentors from Southmead Men’s Space to create and build some planters.
There were nerves from both groups before they gathered together, with each wondering what they would be able to bring. However, nerves were soon pushed to one side as the building began. The older volunteers had a confidence in what the boys could achieve – even when the boys doubted themselves.
Over the weeks, often in the scorching heat, they problem solved, built, moved soil, and planted, all working alongside each other.
It was not without its challenges, whether that was the heat, having to learn new skills, or even getting everyone to The Ranch at the right time!
And yet Thursday afternoons became regular moments of calm around quite a hectic time in the boys’ lives. They began to really admire the volunteers and wanted to hear their opinions on things. They also took pride in what they had built, diligently watering the plants despite the heat wave, and showing other adults and children what they had achieved.
At the end of term the boys invited the volunteers and the team to come to their school leavers picnic, and there are hopes for a future project to bring the boys back together. The project has been a wonderful intergenerational connection and the boys now call out to some of the volunteers when they see them around.
Yes, the project created some beautiful planters which we hope will continue to nurture plants and their produce. But, more significantly, the group created a picture of community. Community that can weather problems and find commonality amongst different ages and backgrounds.