A tree-mendous open day

Three GoodGymers met on a wet Saturday morning to help the Tree Musketeers prepare for their annual open day.

Peter and Eva had already had an early start setting up nearby Hackney Marshes parkrun - Peter carrying out a community mission to cut down some overhanging branches that were blocking the path for runners and Eva setting out the finishing tunnel and signposts along the way. So by the time they had finished that they were already soaked through!

After drying off a bit and a warm cup of tea,  they walked round to the nearby tree nursery to visit one of our GoodGym Hackney favourites, the Tree Musketeers. The group run the nursery where many of the trees that will be planted in Hackney's parks are grown and cared for.

The group was holding its annual open day, providing tours of the site and talks about its work looking after trees in Hackney for the public.

The GoodGym trio were there to help set up the nursery before the guests arrived by making  fences and signs to mark off areas which were closed like the bee keeping areas and newly planted flower beds.

Despite the heavy rain, the nursery was looking lovely, with fruit trees laden, flowers in bloom and thriving trees on display.

When the doors opened to the visitors there were some special guests in attendance. I don't just mean the Mayor of Hackney who was visiting, but fellow GoodGymer Dharmesh's parents who had dropped in to attend the open day. Once we'd finished the set up we shared some tea and cake and joined them on a tour.

GoodGym Hackney regularly help out the Tree Musketeers on the last Saturday of the month so keep an eye out for future community missions.