ARRIVAL Sonnie and Linda were first to arrive on time, with Kathryn running through Roding Valley Park, Claudia making her way from Bexley Heath (!) and Julia doing a detour to Fairlop Waters to collect litter pickers. Overall, 3 people ran to the park as part of their Saturday fitness! Although it was overcast, it was a lovey mild dry day so we got on with litter picking!

Welcome!

This was Sonnie's first ever GoodGym Community Mission!!! Warm Welcome to you Sonnie and well done for doing something good on a grey Saturday morning! We hope to see you again soon:)

Claudia came to visit Redbridge from Bexley Heath as a GoodGym Tourist and we were very happy to see her to help at the Ray Lodge Park! Thank you for joining us on Saturday, Claudia and hope to see you soon again!

LITTER PICKING

A little bit of History Ray Park is a small fragment of what used to be a 16th-century estate that housed Ray Lodge House, that was originally a 1840s farmhouse but then was partly demolished after a fire. The Octagonal Walled Garden stems from the 19th century as well. In 2010 the house was reopened as a visitor centre and a cafe and renamed in memory of former Bridge ward counsillor James Leal, who died in 2006 aged just 30.

Things we found At first glance there wasn't much litter but that's always deceiving and as we progressed from the river across the border, 5 of us collected 6 bags in just over an hour! Some of the more interesting finds included old glass Borvil bottle and toy sword (expertly presented by Linda below:)):

Grow Zones We also came across newly established Grow Zones - these are areas that will be left alone to develop a biodeverse area of wildflowers to help nature along without any fuss! Great addition to the park:)

WRAP UP We finished back at the James Leal Cafe to drop off the bags. Claudia and Sonnie had to rush off but Linda, Julia and Katherine stayed back for a cup of tea and a rock cake (OK that was just Julia)! Lovely morning out to do some exercise, do good and have a socially distanced chat!!! Well done everyone!!!