In this week’s edition of The Third Degree David Fisher, Estate Manager at Oakfield Park reflects on the passing of Gerry Robinson, discusses plans for the popular amenity and running a more sustainable steam engine.
Hi David, thanks for agreeing to this interview. Could you tell us a little about yourself?
I grew up close to Raphoe, going to school there, playing in local sports teams, and spent my formative years gaining knowledge from my rally driving and teacher father and my mother who managed the household alongside having a full-time job – in my opinion the most impressive managerial role there is.
Having finished school in Raphoe, I studied engineering in Belfast, which in hindsight was a great degree to undertake, being so wide ranging and applicable to many types of jobs. I then went on to complete a master’s degree in infrastructure and environmental engineering as well as other post-graduate diplomas and qualifications.
I have worked in private and public sectors, in construction, environmental, educational, and managerial roles. I was a full-time college lecturer for five years also, so I gained a lot of varying experience in several areas.
What are the main things involved in being an estate manager in somewhere like Oakfield Park?
The main thing is that there are many things! It is genuinely the most varied role I think anyone could have – from overseeing works on the ground, a restaurant, a railway, budgets, staffing, events and always trying to improve and adapt. To come up with ideas is also a pleasing part of the job but it really never ends with one thing merging into another from one minute to the next.
Is there a lot of behind-the-scenes work that people might not expect, or be surprised to hear about?
I think people would be shocked at how much paperwork is involved, especially with running a railway. Sometimes it feels like you’re managing the Luas!
Often people think I’m working outside a lot more than I do. There is so much to streamline and find small improvements in whether it is online or in the gardens, but that is all down to teamwork.
One of the first things I did when I started here was to create a hierarchical system whereby there are managers in each area and great teams working for them. It is important that not absolutely everything has to go through me but is essential that some things always will.
Was it something you aimed for, or an unexpected avenue that opened for you?
I think these types of roles are usually unexpected as it is something rarely studied with a view to this role being an end goal or a career. I think, like many things, your background and experience evolves and leads naturally into a role that best suits you.
The death of Gerry Robinson must have been felt hard. Have things changed much since?
Things will always massively change when your boss, leader and the inspiration to the entire team suddenly isn’t with you any longer. However, it was requested by Gerry in his final days that he would like Oakfield to go on as it has been, and he wanted us to push on and develop as we have been in the past.
Lady Heather and I work together now as directors and it is great to still have her support and input. Heather has stepped in as a leader now in a new role and we all adapted as best we could in what were very difficult circumstances. Gerry’s presence will always be felt here, and he still inspires.
You must have very different seasons there – I presume summer is the busiest for tourism, but does every season bring its own set of tasks?
The seasons all bring their own aesthetic here but also their own events and opportunities. We are now coming into my favourite time of the year in Spring/Summer where things really come to life. Summer is busiest of course, but we host a lot of events now like Oakfest and The Santa Express outside of summer.
Are most of your visitors from Donegal or further afield?
As is often the case, our visitors are mostly travelling from far afield. I still find it surprising when I read data on where ticketholders are from or where social media followers are based. However, we do have a lot of local Seasonal Pass holders who visit a hundred times a year and join us for many special events and lunches in Buffers.
How important is nature conservation at Oakfield Park, and what sort of things do you do to encourage nature?
Conservation and sustainability are incredibly important in Oakfield Park. We are very careful with supply chains and waste production, we manage six acres of wildflower, we have planted close to 50,000 trees, we have created natural wetlands, reed beds and so much more. The result is that we can see native flora and fauna come into the area that weren’t here before.
We have also recently started to run the steam train on sustainable fuel instead of Welsh steam coal. The steam coal was relatively local and perfect for a steam engine, but they stopped production. We certainly weren’t going to use coal from South America, so it took a lot of trial and error with an Irish company to find a food waste-based product that is now working very well.
Are you tempted at times, when the office gets to you, just to go out and disappear into the trees for a while without a phone? Does that help?
It can be tempting of course, and it probably is a good idea. It doesn’t really happen though as there is too much to do to have time to walk around the gardens, unfortunately!
Are there any significant plans for the future?
We always have big plans for the future. We have ideas for new events, some of which will be happening in the next few weeks. We would never open a zoo or impound animals, but we do like the idea that visitors can spot animals living here naturally. We have a bird-hide for that reason and have recently spotted a cormorant and another albino bird who have both moved in.
We will be hosting out first Murder Mystery in 10 years this summer, Oakfest is set to be bigger than ever this September with acts to be announced in the next fortnight, The Santa Express grows exponentially from year to year, and we have plans to add even more new features in the gardens in the next 12 months – watch this space!
Quick fire:
The book or the film?
The film
The perfect night?
Asleep
Favourite film, artists, music?
Film: Road to Perdition. Artist: Samantha Robinson. Music: Coldplay and The Midnight
Your nickname at school?
Loads of nicknames based on my surname!
What motivates you?
Successful outcomes
What do you look for most in a friend?
Loyalty
What angers or disappoints you?
Narrowmindedness, littering and not indicating at roundabouts!
How do you relax?
By watching Manchester United – although that is far from relaxing.
Do you have a motto or philosophy you try to live by?
“A lot of hard work is hidden behind nice things”
If anyone else would like to take part in this interview, to raise a profile or an issue, or just for fun, please contact Paul at Dnthirddegree@gmail.com
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