A welcome return to Sea Scouts this evening, though not via the river path that has been underwater a lot the last few days!

Task Owner Russell met us there to explain what needed to be done in the dark: cut back all of the hedge coming through the current old wooden fence in preparation for the old one to be removed and a secure new metal fence to be placed.

Choppers, loppers and a trimmer were the tools of the day, along with some floodlights, and with Russell joining in too, we managed to cover a long section in 45 minutes, as well as some driftwood sorting into the bonfire piles.

The evening finished with a steady run back to Richmond, but not before a sudden interruption for a passer-by who had heard a strange creature in distress - we came running and found some mating toads who were not keen on any help! 🐸

Shopping for Mr K, this time featuring beef casserole

Six GGers turned out for our first visit this year to Richmond Furniture scheme.

Saturday's job, assigned by RFS CEO Simon, was to strip down a stash of pallets so that they could then reuse the wood.

Provided with claw hammers, crow bars and other bits and pieces from the workshop, we set about our work.

JP and Luis proved adept at hammer time, Suze, meanwhile was tasked with the challenging removing the nails from the wood once It was broken up, while Harry, Chris and Adam attempted to take it in turns with a particularly stubborn pallet that was too well constructed.

Overall,however, this mission proved a smashing success!

Shopping for Mr K, this time featuring soap

On a bright but cold day at Ham Lands, our GoodGym crew - welcoming first-timers Clare and Nadya - gathered for a satisfying task: liberating a cherry tree that had all but disappeared beneath a thicket of suckers.

These vigorous new growths had sprung up from the tree’s roots and were crowding out the space around it, competing for nutrients. Fuelled by enthusiasm (and a need to keep warm!), we set to work.

Using a combination of loppers for the thinner and handsaws for the thicker suckers we spread around the tree and attacked the task with gusto. The cut-down suckers soon started to form a large pile near the tree, which Friends of Ham Lands leader Sharon began moving to the undergrowth nearby.

As the cherry tree was revealed and the pile grew larger, several of the GoodGym team switched to removal duties. All the while we had been careful not to cut two of the suckers on which rare butterfly eggs had been found, so these remained standing close to the tree.

As usual for a Ham Lands task, on finishing we gathered at the Swiss Bakery for well deserved hot drinks and treats, happy with our morning’s efforts.