Rakes 'n' Ladders

Another lovely mission with Jennie today, conveniently located just down the hill from the morning's group run task location up on the Down's.

Running back down Whiteladies Road with the group, we then veered off to visit Mrs P and help out in her garden. Mrs P greeted us warmly and invited us in for a chat before we got started on the task in hand.

Discovering a treasure trove of tools waiting for us downstairs, we armed ourselves (quite literally) with stuff that we though we could use and got stuck in.

Jennie cracked on with pruning bushes and weeding the pathways and borders, whilst I clambered up a rickety old ladder and got snipping and chopping at the fir trees that were threatening to take over and stopping the light getting into the garden.

Next Jennie cut back a Bay Tree and expertly tied back a rose bush, whilst I clipped away at another evergreen bush, clearing up as we went with an ever-falling apart rake and brush.

All the while we had a small friendly black cat keeping us company - it was too purry topiary! (thanks Jennie!) - until the opened up garden became too warm for it and it slid into the shade under a nearby car.

It's not always clear how much difference you make doing these tasks but it was wonderful to go back up for another chat with Mrs P, who was clearly delighted with what we'd managed to achieve, and look out from the top floor window at a much tidier garden.

So much so that Mrs P, who struggles with her mobility, decided that she was going to spend the afternoon sitting in her garden for the first time in ages - lovely!