John D Wren

On a chilly Tuesday, four Hammersmith of Fulham runners (and one on two wheels) were at the Josiah Braithwaite Community Gardens in White City. We met with Susannah, their resident gardener, who had three jobs for us:

• To repurpose some signs about the garden, and secure them at the entrance

• To clear the leaves from the grass and paths

• To tidy up in the greenhouse.

We got to work - Lucy and Biscuits worked together to saw the signs up, and drill holes into the corners ready for hanging (with no fingers lost)!

At the other end of the garden, Bethan and Arba armed with brooms and takes took on leaf and greenhouse duties, soon joined by Andrew.

Susannah was impressed as the trio made quick work of their tasks, and soon ventured round to the front to attack some weeds at the entrance to the centre.

Biscuits also found himself another job, taking on ivy that was overgrown and taking over the walls. Armed with his head torch and a big chopper, ivy no doubt that he was going to get this task done.

Meanwhile, despite not sawing anyone’s fingers off, Lucy was getting to grips with the cable ties, and securing the new signs to the fence out the front. Cable ties and cold fingers are not a great combination (but did a drilliant job with the newly hung signs!).

It’s amazing what you can achieve in an hour, and Andrew, Arba and Bethan had cleared the weeds. Susannah gave them the biggest task yet - to chop back the tree branches that were taking over the newly de-weeded path at the front. And what a job they did. Susannah was absolutely delighted at the difference Bethan and Andrew had made with two pairs of choppers! All of a sudden there was twice as much space, and she couldn’t stop grinning ‘everyone is going to be so shocked tomorrow when they see!’.

The final thing to get done was the tidying up. We all helped chop and load black bags with the bush trimmings and swept of the fallen ivy. Job done - signed, revealed, drill-ivered!

GoodGym Bexley were out in force this morning working alongside the Friends of the Old English Gardens in Danson Park to help keep the gardens looking neat and tidy.

Some of us got to work weeding, clearing fallen leaves and turning over the soil in two of the flower beds.

Others formed a wheelbarrow convoy collecting wood chippings from elsewhere in the park and bringing them back to the gardens for future use.

Congratulations to Johnny who completed his 250th parkrun before coming to the task.

And a big welcome to Caroline on her first GoodGym event. Weed love to see you back again with us soon!