Mr B's impressive privet hedge had grown out of control, and out of reach! Martin and David went round to bring it down a level and improve safe access to the property as Mr B isn't as steady on his feet as he once was.

Amply fueled by a generous offering of tea and muffins they cut loads down and chopped it up into small bits to go in green waste bags. The hedge on the neighbours side was left in a much more manageable state and let a lot more light into the garden.

Mr B is something of a writer and as a thank you gave away a couple of copies of a book he has written about the adventures of London pigeons and a poem about snails!

There's plenty of hedge left to trim so a return visit from GoodGym is definitely on the cards.

Mr B's Poem:

Memo from a Mollusc

Dear gardener please read the blurb
On my shell, it says do not disturb
Pray cut some other hedge today
As I'm in snailland far away

Last night this may you amuse
I tanked up too much on the booze
The carrot wine it was just too divine
Have another one Fred said it's just fine

Now I need a leafy corner
With gentle sunshine to be sober
Do not this humble plea refuse
And your good humour you won't lose

Let not your garden be too prim and proper
Let it flourish a little and you will prosper
Be not too eager to impress the neighbours
And take some time from your ceaseless labours

To forgo the rush and tear and slowly stand and stare
At the the tiny creatures wandering there
Whose unhurried ways and patient trails
Make them our teachers (especially the snails!)

This weeks group run took the team on a fairly long distance run 4km out to Stony Hill nature reserve. A popular park space for after school playtime it was due for a tidy up of the usual forgotten litter.

Our team of seven got into every corner and copse of the park seeking bits to fill our bags. after thirty minutes or so we'd filled an impressive eight bags, set them by the road for collection and began the return 4km journey back into town.

Just the one Goodgymer at this task but three others from the Friends of Winsdon Hill and Dallow Downs took to the hill and picked until their bags were bulging.

It's been a long slog over the last few months clearing a massive buildup of litter but it feels like we're getting on top of it now and going deeper into the woods to find litter, though there's still plenty left for sure.