And so balsam bashing season begins, this time with a fantastic ulterior motive that was to clear the river banks of the Hogsmill of not just the hardly sprouted balsam but of everything in preparation for the release of 600 water vole next year. But first things first - dinner time. This weekend citizen zoo will begin the planting of various plants favoured by water vole as food, so clearing the overgrown banks of nettles and balsam was the first course.

We met Elliot from Kingston Council, just off the cycle super highway who gave us the low down of the mission and some instructing on how to use the slasher tool. Due to a dry April so far the balsam we were looking for had yet to really sprout and any that had was still in it's infancy, but with his keen eyes he spotted a little balsam shrub from the path and was able to show us what to look for.

Splitting into three teams we got to work on two different areas of the riverbank, plus a litter pick around the area. Freya couldn't wait to get stuck into Elliot's welly boots, Jassy slashed and hacked at the nettles with much gusto and Jane took her stress of dog sitting out on the nettles and weeds. Kate went digging for a plastic basket, Di got to work on the other bank with her slasher, Rob nearly went for a swim whilst tackling the balsam right down by the edge of the river and Rachel flew off with Eleanor to find something to sit on.

An hour and a half later having made solid inroads into our sections of the banks we downed tools and left Elliot to cart them all back to fishponds, whilst in the middle of his own conference call.

It was great to see a number of you back today - Jassy, Freay, Eleanor and Di - but a massive well done and congratulations to the one and only Rachel who completed her 100th good deed! Amazing work and thanks so much for all your efforts, especially over the past year.