What a fantastic session joining Mac and other volunteers at Millers Pond Nature Reserve/ Sholing Valleys Study Centre to plant trees around this vital green space allowing nature to thrive. Nicola, Leszek, Ashleigh and Stephanie had great fun planting a lovely variety of trees Dog Wood, Hazel, Hawthorn and more. We then dug up a few other saplings which had grown up in the wrong place although a few were rather reluctant to come out of the ground. Leszek and Nicola also took part in the afternoon litter pick around the reserve. We will return to see how the new saplings are getting on later in the year.

Never have we ever seen sooooooooo many cans littered in one place - i think people have been sitting on the bench for years, having a drink or two and lobbing each empty can over the wall!

Ellie and Wilson hopped over the wall and starting lobbing them back again (Ellie had some good bush restraining techniques to allow easy access to the cans) This was much to Abby and Chris's delight - on the receiving end.... all they had to do was stomp on them and put them in a bin bag - sounds easy but there were 100's of them and they stank and were amongst other litter also being lobbed back over.

Jo joined us once she’d found the spot, and Ashleigh put in a few hill climbs on her bike before locating us. The extra hands were very welcome, as the bushes along the pavement also needed litter‑picking — as well as more can‑stomping. Chris had to mind his “dancing knees” and save enough energy to help haul Ellie back over the wall (it wasn’t that high, in fairness!). After an hour, we had collected five bags of cans and the same again in general litter. Ellie kindly (and perhaps a little crazily) offered to take the cans, as they’ll be donated to the Air Ambulance charity.

We were rewarded at the end with Cakey, in celebration of Abby’s birthday. 🍰