With half the hands of last week we went back to finish the garden clearance at Moorlands Community Centre. Tracey was very impressed with the amount we had cleared the first week and has lots of plans for the space that will benefit the local community including their preschool.

We split into two teams with Team one tackling the front of the centre. Tracey, Helen, Helen and Wilson tidied up the kerbs, weeded along the front of the building, and did a good litter pick. Meanwhile Team two, consisting of Sara and myself, continued to clear the astroturf (sorry bugs!) and remove nettles and brambles. I discovered dry brambles sprinkle sharp thorns everywhere so it’s best not the snap them until they’re over the bag! Thorns all disposed of, and with a final sweep done, the centre’s outdoor space was looking much tidier. We hope to be back again soon to help with further plans to develop the space.

We were tasked with weeding the outdoor space as it had become overgrown so difficult to use for the local community. Luckily we had our biggest turnout yet as there was a lot to get done. We welcomed Helen and Lauren for their first GG Southampton task. We hope they will be back soon though Helen did have to commute from Dubai so it might be a while before she makes it again!

We set to work clearing nettles, grassy patches, and moss from the patio and astroturf. We found the perfect bristle firmness to sweep astro with after a few trials! The hoe was the garden tool of choice to get the grass and moss up (with a little help from a shovel or two along the way!). With many hands we were able to get the huge garden bags filled in no time at all. We were able to get the patio all cleared of weeds and leaf litter so the children will be able to decorate it with even more chalk pictures next time they visit. It was a big task and with plenty more to do so we hope to be back next week and to get the front of the centre looking tidy too.