A glorious sunny morning welcomed a grateful eight to the Ham Lands today, as we welcomed two new joiners for our monthly session helping the Friends of Ham Lands in their habitat preservation.

We set up in the same location as last month, near the Thames Young Mariners, and Sharon briefed us on the morning's task to cut back and clear the wild clematis and giant dock which had clustered (to make my punny title work) in one particular area.

The team selected digging tools and shears and got stuck in, digging out the clematis by the roots and cutting down the giant dock low to the ground, being careful to remove it without dislodging too many of its seeds.

We made fast progress as everyone worked steadily, clearing the low lying clematis and clusters of dock and filling sack after sack, which were regularly dragged to the undergrowth to be emptied on a compost heap.

Sharon was on hand with refreshments and we stopped to wet our whistle with the best cuppa ever to be served from a plastic cup, before a final push to finish off. Shear delight!

As usual, we rewarded ourselves for our efforts with a visit to the famous Swiss Bakery for coffee and snacks. Big shout out and warm welcome to Alex and Ann - hope to see you both again soon!

Next time at Ham Lands is on 12th July. You can sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-richmond-helping-the-happy-ham-landers-4b814934-05f6-47e4-a6b2-cf6839ee6cc6

What a beautiful morning greeted us on the Ham Lands this Saturday for our monthly contribution to the preservation of the nature reserve.

3 Richmond regulars were joined by Luis from GG Hounslow for our task, which this time was to uproot and cut back the Giant Dock growing out of control in the central part of the Ham Lands.

Armed with pick axes and loppers we set to work, enjoying the warm sunshine and beauty of the habitat. Sharon and Mark from the FOHL were also there and we made good progress getting rid of as many of the wild plants as possible to stop them spreading their seeds and gaining further territory.

Once our work was done we had a quick cuppa, then headed over to the Swiss Bakery for iced coffee and snacks.

Next up for the Ham Lands will be the session on 14th June - sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-richmond-helping-the-happy-ham-landers-3f40f5bb-6c96-456a-af92-8cac87317b96

It was a scorcher of a morning as Vix, Chris and JP joined Sharon and the merry band of Friends of Ham Lands for some light work on an area of brambles choking the progress of a rose bush.

We grabbed loppers and set to work on the brambles, dragging the chopped tendrils out to be chopped up and bagged. They put up quite a fight, managing to scratch us with their thorns (it being too warm for long sleeves and two of us wearing shorts), leading to a chorus of yelps to accompany our work.

Despite our legs and forearms showing numerous signs of the battle it was a very satisfying task and when Sharon called time for teas and coffees we were proud of what we had achieved. So much so that we decided to reward ourselves with a coffee at the Swiss bakery and a natter before heading off for the rest of our sunny Saturday.

Next time on the Ham Lands will be Saturday 10th May - sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-richmond-helping-the-happy-ham-landers

It’s been a very spring like Saturday morning, no coats needed, but we needed the tough gloves to tackle the brambles. We were tasked to tackle an area in the Ham Lands which was overgrown with brambles and Goodgym along with the Friends of Ham Lands did a great job clearing the area. After a little tea break, we cleared our area and then went off for a coffee in the sunshine.

Saturday morning was grey and drizzly, but that didn’t stop 5 hardy Goodgymers joining the Friends of Ham Lands to help clear a patch of brambles.

We were joined for his first mission by Andrew, who got stuck in with the rest of us with rakes and loppers as we set to work with gusto.

Sharon was on hand as always, directing the work and encouraging us. We made light work of it, chopping and raking and filling the big sacks which were then dragged into the undergrowth to be dumped.

We finished the session with a hot teas and coffees, very welcome after the cold and wet work, then headed off for our weekends.

Next session on the Ham Lands is 8th March, sign up here! https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/helping-the-happy-ham-landers-61cb319d-783d-4501-97b1-f9d294c78dfd

For the last time in 2024 we gathered together at the Ham Lands to support the FOHL in their work on improving the natural habitat for the benefit of animals and walkers alike.

A warm welcome to Natasha, joining from GG Kingston on her second task, and to Steph who made his way over from Ealing.

It was a cool but not freezing cold morning. Sadly Team Leader Sharon had broken her wrist so it was up to the rest of the team to get us to the right spot and brief the group.

We were back in the same area as November’s mission, working on the bramble in two clumps around the base of a tree. Each of us grabbed a pair of loppers or shears and set to work.

We made excellent progress, cutting a swathe through both bramble patches. This time we stopped a little bit early to allow the group time to get ready for the GoodGym Richmond Christmas lunch starting at 12pm.

2024 has been a great year of work on the Ham Lands, thank you to everyone who has come along to one of the 12 missions and done their bit. See you in January, you can sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/helping-the-happy-ham-landers-453c8786-8114-4ccf-a994-8f942db9b6eb