It's raining tulips at GGWM these days! Nine eager GGers went out to the Maidenhead allotment to plant some more tulip bulbs this afternoon.

As there were a few of us, and since we love a litter pick, task leader Amy quickly split us up into two groups: The Planters and The Pickers

The planters - Jen, Sarah (repeat bulb planter from yesterday), Kanika and Tessa A - got down to putting the bulbs in the ground.

Meanwhile, the pickers - Amy, Gillian (who had incited the litter pick), Nicola, Sheila and Tessa R (not B) - grabbed their picks and bags, and set off to get rubbish off the ground.

Even as the previously beautiful sunny day turned gray, windy and stormy, the hardy GGers kept their heads to the ground and in their tasks.

More tulip planting is planned for tomorrow evening at St Luke's for anyone interested (maybe Sarah can get her hat-trick, who knows!).

The answer is definitely tu-lip! But that is not the question. The real question is what colour the tulips will be, and we can't wait to see them come up this Spring so we can find out. Thanks to a large donation of mixed tulip bulbs, we will have plenty of light (and dark!) bulb moments this week. Today's was at St Edmund Campion Primary, where the tulips will add a splash of colour to the wildflower bed at the entrance to school before the wildflowers come up and have their moment of glory. Even though it was a grey day it felt lovely to be out in the fresh air chatting and digging with Sarah, Gillian and Rachel. Well done team!

Summit to put our trainers on for...

RBWM's ‘COPtober’ was a month long initiative in the run up to COP26 (the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow) where lots of local groups had events to encourage positive action against the climate crisis. We were keen to show our support, so we decided to collectively attempt to run and/or walk the distance to Glasgow before COP ended on the 12th of November. The distance to Glasgow is around 630km, equivalent to 124 parkruns!

Our members loved the idea and wasted no time getting their running shoes on and signing up to log their efforts on the Challenge Hound website. In fact we gave ourselves 30 days to (Glas)go the distance but we made it after only 13! (Glas)go go go team! Never mind getting there before COP finished, we got there before it even started.

As the challenge coincided with the weather getting chillier it was a great motivator to not go into hibernation. For some the challenge reminded them to choose greener transport to run errands. Some members also logged distance on scenic trails on half term holidays - an opportunity to appreciate our beautiful world and to reflect on the need to protect it.

A special welcome to Sarah, who suggested the challenge and joined us for the first time.

Apologies to those people who signed up after the 27th of October and found they couldn't contribute kms on Challenge Hound as the challenge had already been completed. We know you were there with us in spirit, and kudos to you for any recent runs or walks, regardless of where they might have been logged.

What else can I do locally to fight climate change?

Here is a great podcast to download and listen to on your next run: BBC R4 - 39 Ways to Save the Planet.

The RBWM Climate Community on Facebook is also a great place to start. Click here to find their page. They share advice about everything from draught proofing your home to reducing waste.

You might also be interested in planting some trees with GoodGym. We have a hedgerow planting session listed in Eton Wick for the 27th of November (details and sign up here) and some sessions to help plant the New Thrift Wood at Ockwells Park listed for weekends in December. Find details on our listings here.