Barnet Community Harvesters gathered a crack team of pickers for a run on the Gordon Road Allotments in Finchley, and Goodgym was there to cheer them on. Cherian, Paul and I rocked up in the weirdest flash rainstorm, with a rainbow glowing overhead and a wild mix of sun and rain still spitting down. But Daniella was there with fruit pickers, harvesting sacks and crates, along with 5 other volunteers, rearing to go.

We started on the two big community apple trees near the top of the allotment. The ground around them was already littered with windfalls, but there were plenty more nestling in the branches. We gathered nearly three full crates, one of a perfumed pink apple a bit like a Discovery, and another two of an unknown green cooker. Then, mid-way through climbing into one tree, the allotmenteers confirmed permission to pick a plum tree deeper into the grounds.

In all, we gathered over 40kg of apples, and around another 5-10kg of plums. We also gathered some of the windfall and stuff we knocked while wielding the fruit pickers, and left it on the allotment sharing table for others to enjoy.