A Ponding Experience

Even in the absence of Janpal from Southall Community Alliance, the April community day at Western Road Urban Garden still went ahead. When our team arrived, we discovered that Paul from Ealing Allotments Partnership had brought the samosas, which made him immediately recognisable as our leader, so we enquired about jobs for the day.

One of the first GoodGymers to show up was Freya, who cycled for her first task with us and was no stranger to working at community allotments thanks to her link with Artification's project in North Acton!

Welcome to the GoodGym family, Freya!

Christos, who ran to Southall along the canal, and Milly, who walked to the task, joined Paul, Katy, Andre and Adel in moving a pile of wood to make space for a new pond. They later switched to a carpentry job with Mani, who came with his toolbox and a saw, hoping to cut the frames for the long-anticipated doors to the Western Road polytunnel. Sevan and Kash, after a picturesque run from Northfields, along with Jags, who had plenty of energy after the parkrun, joined Freya at hay bales. All the hay had to be removed before the next week's council work to make a driveway to the allotment. No more muddy shoes at the next Western Road community day?

Following everyone's favourite samosa break, the GoodGym crew grabbed mattocks and spades to start digging the future pond. The plan was to make it 1.5 m deep. In the meantime, Mani was checking out how the newly cut wooden planks fit as the polytunnel door frame. He went inside and outside Southall's largest polyethene palace.

"Anyone wants to use the sauna?", he asked.

"Soon, we will have a jacuzzi here too!" replied the pond diggers.

Despite not being a massive group, all the volunteers made fantastic progress in transforming Western Road into a prime spa resort! After the task, the GoodGymers, led by Jags, went for a walk to treat themselves to lovely views along the canal and well-deserved coffee.