with a break in the middle of a series of work related clean-ups it felt only natural to tidy up the surrounding undergrowth as well.

• bag & half of clothing
• dumped dvd player
• funny sign
• General rubbish

all packed up and left with work rubbish for council collection

It was the day before Star Wars day, so the Force was strong today with the runners at the Fields - although disappointingly no-one arrived dressed as either Darth Vader or a StormTrooper...to be fair it's a (nearly) fifty year old film, which probably ages me more than today's youthful participants...

Run Director Rue was determined to put a little more structure into today's set up - so we had a specific area for the barcode scanners and then, interestingly, he'd laid out cones in a double rectangle "for the warm up" - which proved successful as long as you paid close attention to the instructions.

Grateful for the "volunteer parents" who stepped in at the last minute to don the high viz, and helped by an increasing number of DoE pupils on finish tokens, timekeeping and barcode scanning duties, we were good to go on the dot - Hilary was at her regular Turn 1 spot, and Nick on timekeeping duty.

8 and a little bit minutes later (the Force was strong with this one), our first placer crossed the line, closely followed three seconds later by our regular visitor from Milton Keynes - and soon a steady stream were sprinting down the sunny finishing straight, with this week's tailwalker, Maria who'd come all the way from West London (thank you) and then set off to walk back to Hounslow, crossing the line to complete another successful week of running at the Fields - 12 PBs were set today, just over a quarter of the field. Great work all round.

Same time next week under the Big Tree, where the Force will continue to be strong...

The front garden was small, so the tidying and hedge trimming did not take long, but the experience was very rewarding. The weather was beautiful, and I had a lovely time chatting with Ms F while completing the tasks.

I, Dan, ran from my flat to Ms D.'s home near Mabley Green on a radiant day: warm, with a cool breeze. It was marathon day for thousands, but the jog across E9 was plenty for this Goodgym runner.

Having arrived, it was clear to see how Ms D. had a lively mix of plants sharing her front garden. Having introduced ourselves, Ms D. explained her wishes for my time. Ms D. was well aware of the peak growing season, so the gist of my efforts would be weeding out the encroachers and the imposters, to restore the space for her favourites.

In short, Ms D. was keen to lose the dandelions to give her more delicate and unusual features the space they warranted.

Ms D.'s high-ish hedges created a semi-concealed haven for some informal garden nurturing, which I was pleased to support with.

Ms D. had trouble bending and twisting, so I got down on my knees to ensure my volunteering focused on what she could not do. I set about clearing unwanted plant-life. Soon, however, I begun finding little historic curios blended with the soil. Glass fragments that made a pipe, broken pieces of pottery, beside other little treasures.

Ms D. said how she once motivated a younger family member to help tidy the garden, casually dropping reference to old coins and who knows what priceless artefacts that may be within easy reach, if helping to weed...

My visit coincided with the local jumble sale day, where all homes in the area were invited to set up stall for warm-spirited bring and buy trade. I helped Ms D. assemble a pair of wardrobe rails for the display of clothes later on that day.

Within the cosy confines of the front garden, time sped by chatting together and trading respective interests and know-how, covering plants (naturally), with a bit on fashion (clothes rail- inspired), and the neighbourhoods and wider area in the borough where we have both lived.

I gave a hand to one final job: banging in a tall wooden post to support the greenhouse in the back garden. It was the larger of the two garden spaces, and where Ms D. revealed her propagator skills. She generously sent me off with a couple of cuttings she had set in little pots, to contribute to the community stalls, and, as it happened, to my balcony, too.

The pace of my gardening work had been unrushed, yet also purposeful, flowing with the calm mood of our steady and stimulating chat.

Ms D. had expressed a desire for a sharply defined garden with slick edges enclosing well-ordered arrangements of plant life. The gracefully rough structure she had cultivated, containing an array of plants, feels more relaxed and artful than her stated desire.

With plenty more weeding and sorting to be done, besides sifting soil to collect up any non-organic treasures, this garden task will likely need more community mission time yet: sessions of steady and sublime garden up-keep 😁

Today I visited an isolated resident of Hackney to continue to tidy her over grown garden.

Some of my time spent cutting down the high comfrey plants, some removing the smaller weeds from the paving and also cutting back and removing as much of the Ivy that has taken hold of the back of the house.

Many bags of garden waste to be shifted now but the majority of the garden is accessible again and we enjoyed a nice sit down and a cool drink before I left.

Kareem and Dan coordinated their free time to team up for a garden tidy mission on this April weekend, serving a remarkable Hackney artist in residence.

So smooth were arrangements, up until then, our new gardening partnership even managed to sync with one of the first hot and sunny Sundays of the year. But then, gloves and cool drinks at the ready, we proceeded to ring a neighbour's door bell by mistake, before we successfully located the correct property (next door) and introduced ourselves to Ms P., whose garden we had signed up to help with.

Ms P. presented the two main tasks she wished us to do: (1) a major cut-back of the tall privet hedge running along the border she shared with the same neighbour we'd briefly just acquainted; and (2) thinning back the lilies that were taking over the front flowerbed space, to the detriment of the mature rose shrubs and their chances of blooming.

So, pruning tasks set for us with purposes both practical and pretty.

Ms P. moved slowly and would be unable to push back an overgrown hedge on her way up the path to her front steps. Additionally, her thoughts were with the potential to revive her favourite roses, and any other plants overshadowed and outgrown, now the hedge and foliage were lined up for the chop.

Chopping we executed with freshly sharpened shears, still requiring a strong snap of the blades to cut through the thicker stems of the woodier privet branches. Looking down from her upstairs window, Ms P. encouraged us to go further, so shears slid in again, closer and deeper, sending leaves fluttering down to lay a soft carpet of new green, strewn along the front path.

Around to the flowerbed side, lying parallel to the street; those lush clumps of lily leaves disguised gnarled corms (little bulbs) down below. These had to be prized out with the twists, pokes and pulls from a medium-sized garden fork, rather strained by the experience. Some corms had strings of twisted tubular roots reaching under and across into rose soil territory. But, with persistence, the clearance re-introduced some air and light, with the space now ready for new growth.

Kareem and I alternated back and forth, switching between the different muscles required for shearing the hedge versus digging out lily corms. Reaching the sweeping up stage, Ms P. returned and was pleased to see the reconfigured garden scene that had taken shape. The big hedge haircut has restored the width of her path for easier access from the street-side gate up to her front door. the rebalanced flowerbed now offers the chance for a more rounded fulfillment of her front garden's plants and flowers, roses included.

It had felt to Kareem and I like a rather severe intervention at times, but one that will set-up the picture-perfect views to come. Cruelty done, kindness to come.

Moving onto consider the bigger picture, Ms P. was keen to present the greater good a well-tended garden can achieve: well beyond the immediate vicinity, over the hedge and out through the wrought-iron fencing. There are the physical health and wellbeing benefits for local residents and passers-by, thanks to the improved air quality effects and aesthetic beauty on show. There is the way a spic and span frontage to one home that can set a standard to inspire others to grow those same health benefits. Even reported crime rates can supposedly lower in areas where gardens are well maintained.

I have since become a front garden upkeep ambassador 😀.

Ms P.'s passion for gardening and community was still shining when she offered us a refreshing ginger cordial within the comparatively shaded interior of her home. Still clear to see were the many canvases hung on her walls: her own paintings. Ms P., the artist, shared a few tales of adventure with us, befitting somebody of her distinguished age, which she openly and proudly shared. As an experienced nonagenarian, without the strength to dig her own garden, her energy still flows strongly through the observations of plants and people she has known, and through the paintings she has made along the way. And continues to create.

Ms P. appeared pleased with our help that hot and sunny Sunday afternoon, restoring a safer, neater and fairer balance for her to step through and watch over, during the summer ahead. Never mind the sweaty graft Kareem and I had pitched in with, clearly Ms P.'s wisdom and verve provided the main inspiration to behold. I was delighted to help her, with Kareem, bringing out the best in her surroundings.