We were hoping for a new volunteer tonight but it wasn't to be. My support team had come out in force though. Big thanks to Annie and Andrew! Hopefully they'll be along another time. I'm sure they would've had a great time if they'd come this evening thanks in no small part to you two.

The three of us met Anne, Zak and two other Friends of Locke Park at the shed to gather up equipment for the tasks lying ahead of us in the park. We wheeled up large and small pairs of secateurs, rubble bags, gloves, sweeping brushes, and a leaf blower with two sets of batteries to the top of the Serpentine Walk. Here we were tasked with cutting down vegetation which was obscuring the view down the valley from the bench at the top. There were huge brambles to be tangled with; James dived into the fray to tackle the spiky vines, Anne got to work blowing leaves off of the path, Andrew started snipping away at smaller branches, Annie pottered about doing some topiary and Zak kept watch from the bench whilst the FoLP tended to other bits and pieces in the general area.

Take a bramble on me

The branches were all cut down to the desired level in this small area of the park. As our time was drawing to a close the cuttings thrown over the fence were gathered up and snipped into smaller pieces then placed in the waiting rubble sacks. When all the cuttings were safely in the bags we started to shut up shop. Just before taking the equipment back Anne showed us another bed that will be wanting our attention. I mentioned to her that we can do bits on the occasional weekend too which may be a good option for some folk who find attending on a weekday evening challenging.

After doing work for our alloted time (and a little extra in lieu of a fitness activity) we said our thanks and goodbyes to the others and set off back to Glasshouse to stretch off.