When bush comes to shrove

A flipping marvelous 24 runners came along on pancake day to help Incredible Edible clear beds in a Jackie's Garden in Stokes Croft.

There was a chilly wind in the air but that did not deter our brave runners in red from taking to the streets to get fit and do good. After our usual intros and headcount we ran the short mile trip to the Bearpit to meet Hannah from Incredible Edible. She welcomed us with her now customary surprise at our group size and glee at the potential of work we could do. Hannah gave us an intro to what Incredible Edible do, telling us how they use unwanted patches of land all around the city and turn then into productive and educational veg and fruit patches where people can learn to grow and also harvest the plants when they are ready, which everybody is free to do.

We were then given tools from the container of gardening wonders. There were forks, spades, wheelbarrows, and loads more. Everyone chose their weapon of choice, with Alex happily being our resident bag lady, and then walked the short distance to the garden. This garden is special because it was mainly the work of one lady who poured her heart and soul into creating it and making sure it was kept in good condition. Her name was Jackie and she sadly passed away in December. It was our pleasure to help maintain the garden and her legacy.

On our previous visit to Jackie's Garden we cleared loads of leaves and carefully dug out weeds. This time it was a full on tear it up assault on the flowerbeds to clear them for planting in the spring. Everyone picked a spot and dug, chopped and cleared. One team, including Dave, Richard and new recruit Florence, took on the task of bagging up leaves and carrying them back to a compost heap at the Bearpit, while Ian and Vito decided they were going to take out a seemingly small harmless stump (more on that later).

As time passed the pile of leaves disappeared, bushes were torn from the ground in what resembled a miniture version of the orks tearing down the Forest of Fangorn (one for you LOTR fans out there), and the stump was turning out to be more than a match for our shovels and small pruning knife. In fact it left us more stumped than a cricketer who has just stumbled out of his crease while bamboozled by a physics conundrum as the wicket keeper swipes his bails off.

Time eventually got the better of us but we certainly had the better of the garden. Loads of ground was cleared and even though the stump remains we achieved loads. The team loaded up the final barrows of bush and we headed back to the Bearpit to down tools and run through a few drills to keep fit and warm.

It was a short trip back to base where we stretched out, talked about pancakes and of future greatness at Bristol Children's Playhouse on Saturday and The Scrapstore next Tuesday.

Thanks for all your effort tonight guys,it all panned out beautifully. We totally battered that garden and shroved those bushes who's boss. Catch you on the flip side.

Gary