Where there's a Will(ow)...

So tonight was a slightly longer run for Goodgym Poole and our longest so far. For some this was the appeal of a slightly longer run in whilst doing the task still, a good way to get a few extra miles in!

Great to be joined by Caprice from the Bournemouth Goodgym - please do visit again as a pleasure to have your company and weeding skills!

The Supported Housing unit were desperate to have some work done on their garden which had become overgrown and unkempt. Many of the tenants are elderly or have physical disabilities so struggle to manage themselves and housing budgets now only cover the bare essentials such as cutting lawns and hedges, not actual gardening.

We were met by Alan at the task who lives at Willow View, despite his own disabilities, he tries to do some gardening work himself. He directed us to the essentials of cutting back a bush on one bed area so wheelchairs can easily get round. The wall plants were all over the floor as well as up the building so they needed a lot of cutting back. Finally the paths were covered in weeds and looked unsightly so these were prioritised as well. This was pretty therapeutic actually, getting all the weeds out from the cracks. Caprice was heard in the background saying how much she was enjoying tackling the weeds, she would have happily stayed I think! Paul after a hard day grafting in the building trade, quietly got on (yes really!) with clipping back a bedding area so there was no overhang. (Great to have you along for first task Paul!)

Liz and Nicki tackled the wall climbers (sorry no idea on plant names!) and turns out Liz also works in Housing so will be sharing what we do with her housing contacts for future tasks.

Due to the long run, one of the tenants brought us out some squash which was appreciated after the incline up the Blandford Road! Ann did great to keep a solid pace up the Blandford Road following a few weeks of not much running. Sian, (sure we heard you ask if we were nearly there yet!) despite her uncertainly, made the mileage look easy!

Half an hours work and 12 bin liners of garden waste later, the improvement was very obvious! As well as visually looking better, the garden can be accessed more easily for those using their wheelchairs around the planters. There is definitely potential for a lot more work to be done, however due to distance, I feel this will be a future mission to go back and do some more work!

Dan on the return leg felt the dodgy runners knee and took the last mile or so steady with Caprice as backmarker. Dan really hope after RICE that you are fit and ready for tough mudder this weekend - Good Luck!

Great to have Heather join us for the first time and she made the pace look easily, looking fabulous and doing a great job in the garden.

We were later than planned back to base so we were all glad to get back home for our dinner and a cuppa.

Next week we will much closer to home!