What a way to start the week!

Sourcing materials🌺: I started the session with a visit to a garden centre to get some compost, perennials (Choysia and Lavender) and annuals (petunias and impatiens).

Tidying up🧹: Usually there is some litter/cigarette butts in the planters but this morning there was hardly anything (thanks to the cleansing team in Hainault, who do the most important job of all - daily planter maintenance - thank you!). I did some weeding, picked out an apple (🙄) , washed out coffee out of one planter (seriously 😡.

Replanting: One of the planters has died its death, I think due to being pulled out a while back - everything dried out and weeds have taken over. Surprisingly it was very easy to take it out and put it into bags provided by cleansing van people, who kindly said we can just leave these by the bins and they will collect. I laid the compost in stages, watering in between as it was quite dry and fluffy. I've planted fresh plants and flowers, topped up with bark and gave it a proper soak. Hopefully, it all settles and blooms soon 

Watering : This was a bicep-busting work as usual and I ensured that all reservoirs are filled, all planters were soaked, especially under the bridge as they don't get rained on. It's quite satisfying knowing the plants will not be thirsy for a bit!

Chatting 😊: It's always nice to meet new people and catch-up with the ones I know whilst doing this, station staff offered to help create a laminate sign for our storage so it's not used for cleaning purposes, and it's lovely to hear from those who appreciate a little bit of greenery here - thank you for your kind words!

It's always quite satisfying afterwards and I was glad to see the rain as well, it's been waaaay to dry this spring so any additinal water is always welcome! Until next time!

Though I didn't get out to the session on Sunday (it was only me after all), I ended up watering planters late at night on Monday evening after returning from the city. It was soooo cold!

I ended up scaring a cleaner in the men's toilet but the job was done and planters definitely needed it!

next session is on the 18th! My work kindly offers volunteer days so I'll be spending a good chunk of time to replant one planter and fill all reservoirs with water!

A lovely morning catching up with fellow goodgymmers whilst doing good! Sharon was planting the new season annuals - petunias and impatiens and tidying up the planters with extra bark chips! James did a super speedy job of filling up all the reservoirs whilst I was watering on top of the planters.

Everything is looking so much better now! Thank you everyone!

Next session is on the next bank holiday monday to hopefully replant a couple of older planters that are in need of fresh plants!

Oh dear, where has the time gone! On the 7th November three of us did a massive revamp of some of the planters at hainault station - completely fresh compost, new plants and bark (which has been working a treat and helps to reduce people sticking cigarette butts in!)!

We also fully watered and filled reservours for all c. 15 planters - lots was done and great work all!

What a dry spring we're having! It's lovely to enjoy sunny and warm weather but when you're taking care of living plants, you notice that a bit of rain is actually not a bad thing! All the planters were in need of good watering so I spent 45mins lugging watering cans to give some water to all the perennial flowers and plants. They were looking immediately better!

Additional bonus - hardly any spillage from filling up watering cans! I'm becoming a pro lol

a gloomy day but brightened up by an early productive session! Kathryn got a run in by travelling to Hainault! We were pleasantly surprised that the planters weren't looking too bad - not a lot of litter, planters under the bridge still had greenery! We topped up the planters with fresh compost and bark and then gave everything a good water, including filling up the water reservoirs. Simon the snail also made an appearance. Finished the morning with a nice hot drink at the nearby cafe!