Today we represented GoodGym on the one of regular community conservation volunteer days organized by Friends of Berrylands Nature Reserve. We have arrived outside Berrylands Scouts Hut at 10 AM ⏰, when the event was kicking off with a short introduction. We heard a bit more about the today’s tasks but it was especially inspiring 🤩 to hear about all amazing things they have already done in the nature reserve 🌱.

Super energized by intro and today’s sun 🌞, we grabbed three wheelbarrows full of equipment ✂️ 🧤 and headed off all together into the nature reserve. It quickly turned out that the site was really muddy 👣 at the moment after recent rains 🌧, so both of us looked at our trainers and felt deep regret 🥺 about not taking a bit more suitable footwear for the conditions – wellies would be just perfect 👌!

Our main task for the day was to start work on a dead hedge. It’s essentially a barrier constructed from cut branches and saplings. It’s good for wildlife - especially for small mammals 🐿, birds 🐦 and insects 🦗🐞 - because it gives them somewhere to shelter that is protected from predators and from the wind and rain.

Before getting to the area where this hedge should be built, the Friends showed us a similar construction completed in a different part of the reserve. The group split in two, with one working on evening out and clearing the area, the second cutting and shaping the branches for the hedge.

We immediately joined the second bunch, our task was to ensure that the branches that go into the ground will have a relatively same length 📏 and also that their endings will be spiky 🏹 so it will be easy to stick them to the ground. We grabbed saws and get on with the work. There was a lot of material to process, so this is how we spent most of our time!

After around an hour, we were asked to go to a different part of the reserve to transport 🏗 the second pile of branches that was collected by Friends some other time. Now we could make a good use of it ✅!

After around 2.5h we went back to the hut to wash our hands (Happy Birthday 🍮 sung x2) to prepare ourselves for biscuits 🍪 and warm drinks ☕.

We haven’t stayed until the end but long enough (2.5h) to see a nice progress the group made. As they said before we started – building a dead hedge takes surprisingly long time so the task wouldn’t be finished today and the work will continue! Our trainers were crying for wash. Not-welly planned 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♀️!

Kingston Goodgymers were stOAKed to be able to join the conservation day held by the Environment Trust at Berrylands Nature Reserve.

After a little muddle with the timing, I arrived a little early at the Berrylands Scout Hut and was directed to the group that had set to work in ridding the nature reserve of an intrusive plant species called the Varigated Yellow Archangel. I joined them with a spade and fork to get to the roots of the problem. Elliott and Jeremy, the organisers of the Environment Trust conservation day, explained that these plants had taken over as a result of decades of residents dumping their garden waste in the area. There were a lopper thorns to cut out of the way too. It took more than a sec(ateurs) to get them out.

Everyday’s a school day!

Before long I was joined by Samia, Rob, Laura, Gosia and Rafal. Equipped with bags and pincer sticks, we were then redirected to do some litter picking around the nature reserve. While we were searching I was given a brief lesson on the defensive strength of a dragonfly’s reproductive system! Apparently this is what they were taught on the walk from the Scout Hut.

We were litter-ally walking around in circles trying to keep our sense of direction while searching for any litter to collect. Rob put in a tree-mendous effort, not letting the trees get in his way and clambering down to the river bed in pursuit of litter. Laura was bouncing at the discovery of a red football in our search and managed to keep it with us to donate to the Scouts’ Hut. Gosia and Rafal had a keen eye for bottles hiding in the shrubbery. Kate sweatered over trying to drag an abandoned jumper through some thorns but managed to pull-over the brambles. Samia didn’t let any litter get left behind and was quick to point out any that we’d missed while doing an expert job of holding the bag for us.

We were berry pleased with our haul and wood be happy to come back and do it again! As our bags became ever heavier with added chains and mysterious items, we brought it all back to the Scout Hut to regroup for a cup of tea and some lovely homemade biscuits kindly shared.

Here's what the lovely Environment Trust had to say following our #redthunder invasion:

We love you guys & thanks so much. Do come back! ;-) "

Look out for similar community mission listings in future and you could join us as we were told that the Environment Trust have conservation events once a month.