Charlton House and Gardens welcomed a mighty team of two yesterday, as a last-minute volunteer pairing, whose name is Šana, arrived ready to bring some help from Newham.

Šana and I could be found chatting, drinking tea, taking photos of each other and generally creating the impression that we'd signed up for a content creation mission rather than a gardening one.

Behind the scenes, however, some surprisingly productive work was taking place.

Equipped with a shiny wheelbarrow and pair of garden shears, Šana went off to tackle the overgrown bushes surrounding the open space garden, filling an entire wheelbarrow or two with cut thickets and staying longer than Aidyn on that day! Aidyn was somehow teamed up with a couple of local CABAHS volunteers headed into the wilderness area armed with a trowels and a bag of 500 bulbs! Battling thick and wet grass and stubborn ground, we managed to plant staggering half of that never-ending bag!

Meanwhile, the mountain of greenery removed by my teammate, Šana, helped tidy up those bushes!

The photographic evidence may suggest we spent the afternoon posing dramatically and documenting our every move, but the final tally tells a different story:

🌷 c 200-250 bulbs planted in the wilderness area in conjunction with CABAHS team! 🌿 One wheelbarrow packed full of cut thickets removed 📸 Countless photos taken for "proof" ☕ Cups of tea and plenty of banter consumed

A successful afternoon at Charlton House and Gardens proving that, with enough determination, it's possible to be both productive volunteers and photo queens at the same time (proven before countless times)!

Well what a night, and what a pun! All credit to Ivar of course, who struck GOLD with that one and set off a tirade of puns in the whatsapp group.

Some walked and some ran to the task - with two simultaneous ice breakers, the best of which being "what's one thing you hated as a child that you now love?"

On arrival we split into teams - an indoor and an outdoor group. The innies were putting back up some gilded ceiling panels, the golden evidence of which is still on Mark's face apparently - what a great way to evidence who did the real work in that group 🤓

Meanwhile the outies pottered around the community garden, watering the beds, weeding and chatting. And Rubaina gallantly rescued me from a spider - especially glad you came back Rubaina and you can be paired with me for all future bug related tasks, thanks very much 🙋‍♀️

But last night was more tour that task and hey what a great way to spend a Wednesday evening than looking through the stores at the Prince Philip Maritime Museum. We checked out lots of paintings of shipwrecks and battles and portraits of lots of middle aged white men, and one woman who looked a bit taken aback to still be there. It was cool to get a peak inside and hear about some of the paintings - it's been a while since we've been in and we've had lots of new friends join us since then!

Time came to head off and then Aidyn caused some drama almost getting himself locked in (we almost did but we wouldn't have actually forgotten you, Aidyn.)

Great to see you all as always!

Coming up

There's loads going on this weekend in addition to the parkruns so come and join a session if you have some time!

Saturday:

• https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/spring-bulb-planting-and-mulching

• https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/gardening-at-hervey-road-community-garden-1ed22d2f-d7a0-489e-8a74-da9f3d7430db

• https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/remove-fence-in-sutcliffe-park

Sunday:

• https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/helping-at-the-cabahs-plant-sale-e89cf473-6588-423d-85cf-691658b18405

• https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/clean-up-charlton-10ce0687-9b2d-408e-b009-96e6222da227

Next Wednesday we've got a Charlton House start and a run to Charlton Manor Primary School: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/gardening-at-charlton-manor-primary-school-e46f1ec7-a47c-4ac6-bf6f-fb36414e9c9c

Until next time!

Rachel

The fact Ivar’s legs look like they’ve been repeatedly mugged by a hedge is proof that shorts weren’t necessarily the best attire for this task.

Ivar, Cat and Kenny showed up to a very autumnal Oxleas Woods, and joined the Friends of Oxleas Woodlands to tackle some unruly brambles and trim back sycamore trees. The brambles, however, had clearly taken offence to our presence and were determined to leave their mark. Our trusted gardening gloves weren’t really up for the task.

Halfway through, we finally got our hands on some heavy-duty gloves, making the battle slightly less one-sided.

The park is looking tidier, the trees are happier, and someone has learned that long trousers are not to be feared!

It was my first time joining the volunteers and seeing Charlton House & Gardens, everyone was very welcoming and asked what task I'd prefer to do.

We split into two groups with Aidyn joining the bulb team and me and few others cutting back ready for the next lot of bulbs to go in on the other side.

Time went very fast and it was already 11am tea break, we had already got quite alot of work done "Many hands make light work as they say" We was joined for our tea break by the resident cat Casper. We returned to finish tidying up for the last half hour, it was a really good session.

Last night 12 of us gathered, some for the run and some meeting at the task. The sweaty ones arrived to a very prompt group waiting at Montessori House (I love our group, you're always on time - except for Ivar obviously who is always compulsively early.)

We haven't been here for a long time and have previously painted the outdoor fence which was off the cards tonight due to the rain so instead the main task was to paint the hallway. Thankfully Wendy and Mr Roger were very well prepared with the floor covered and all the rollers and brushes at the ready for us to get started. It was definitely a tight squeeze for 12 of us but we managed to organise ourselves and get the job done to I think a pretty good standard in half an hour and everyone seemed to still be friends by the end, despite a few painted rear ends 😆

Special welcome to Megan and Rubaina for your first tasks with us and hope you'll be back for more soon!

This weekend as well as the Parkruns we've got conservation at Oxleas Woods

And Hornfair Juniors on Sunday.

Next Wednesday we're at Prince Philip Maritime Museum where we'll be doing some odd jobs and gardening.

Until next time!

Rachel 👋

One volunteer, who volunteers at the house, and I were collecting and piling up dry wood and branches for a wood chipper which is expected to be at the house in November this year. While collecting them we managed to make a lot of mess on the pavement leading up to the piling ground. I then had to clean it all up giving it a fabulous touch with the broom that lives at the house. I then got carried away and cleaned the entrance to the garden as well (there might have been some polite nudging from another volunteer - Sharon).

Ciedie was doing some mindful work in someone else’s flower bed helping them out with rather fluffy plants 🌱. She took a good care of them and none of the plants got hurt.

Cedie and I then took some slow motion videos and selfies 🤳

The day was beautiful and the local volunteers were treating us to some rather refreshing tea ☕️ ☺️