...Gun!

Second Monday of the Month so Liz led GoodGym Richmond’s Group Run from the Tap Tavern out along the Thames Thames path towards our sponsored plots in Buccleuch Gardens where the main task was watering, trying to get as many plants as possible through this latest heatwave.

Liz, Anita, Honor, Sarah Jane, Africa, Suze, Adam, Harry and Steph were able to create a human chain, filling watering cans and trugs with muddy Thames water to give the Three Pigeons Plot a really good soaking. There was also time for weeding, washing-up used plant pots and taking some much needed water to the Arcade planters and around some of the benches.

Our Social afterwards was a trip to the nearby cinema to see The Naked Gun where row D was entirely GG red and the laughs distracted us (and hopefully everyone else in the cinema) from the aroma of mud, sweat and Eau de Thames.

On a lovely warm Saturday morning, Sharon of the Friends of Ham Lands welcomed 5 Richmond GGers to do some good in the sunshine.

We first walked a good long way from the meeting point to the riverside on the other side of the Ham Lands, to find our target site. We needed to be near the river as our focus for the task was on “bashing” balsam.

Himalayan Balsam is an invasive species which grows rapidly in wetter areas during the summer months, blocking light for other plant life and generally causing a nuisance for native flora and fauna.

The great news is that bashing balsam is great fun. It’s very satisfying to pull up the plants, which can grow at least 10ft tall, and we made good progress, cutting a wide swathe through a densely growing area and building a huge pile of the bashed balsam.

The only problem was stinging nettles, and those who had come in shorts soon regretted that choice. We did our best to cut them down with loppers as we went, but a few stings and rashes were picked up along the way.

We finished up and headed out separate ways this time - the Swiss Bakery is closed in August. We’ll be back (and the bakery open again) in September - sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-richmond-helping-the-happy-ham-landers-3b829ff3-0842-4cc9-96a6-49a17d3d149e

A muggy evening called for a gentle task this evening, sharing the benefits of GoodGym with local residents via a leaflet drop in East Twickenham. The air was heavy but the mood was light as we made our way along the river path and over the bridge to an area that lots of people have signed up but not joined as members to see if we can prompt some action! Fingers crossed our efforts will pay off and we will be introducing more people to the positive change that GoodGym can make soon.

On our latest visit to this children's home in St Margarets, GG was tasked with giving the large rear garden a bit of attention. Firstly, Sam, Steph and the returning James were joined on Richmond Green by Chris and Anita for a couple of laps followed by a run across the lock bridge to the task, where we met Honor, Adam and JP. St Christopher's had no specific gardening job they needed doing so we used our wit and Anita's expertise to find improvements to make to their lovely green space.

Tasks included removing the bindweed convolvulus from a number of plants and shrubs, cutting away brambles and reordering the shed. It was a fine summery evening for keeping fit and doing good!

Five Goodgymers went on a trek along the River Crane to tackle Himalayan balsam for the Friends of the River Crane (FORCE). On a humid summer day we dawned our long sleeves and trouser to pick the invasive balsam out from sky high nettles and brambles. It was prickly business. It seems endless but we managed to clear a large section along the Crane and go home to lick our wounds.

Garden watered this afternoon!

Congratulations James, first task complete!