Sol, Mick and Sheila joined 3 other volunteers at Ray Mill Island to continue building our dry hedge. We were grateful that the weather was dry this week, and we made great progress! Everyone knew what they were doing, and we hammered in stakes (given nice pointy ends with Mick's newly-sharpened axe), packed the area with brush wood and bound it all together with flexible branch lengths. We were all pleased with our progress and look forward to the wildlife moving in

The rain didn't put off 3 intrepid GoodGymmers keen to progress the building of a dry hedge at Ray Mill Island. Sheila and Rachel were in charge of selecting and cutting branches so they were suitable for packing into the body of the hedge. Mick cut the branches suitable for use as the vertical stakes , fashioning pointed ends with a slightly blunt axe. He hammered them into position, giving the hedge a very pleasing curve. The hedge was packed with branches and secured with long flexible binding branches. We were pleased with our work and made our way home to dry out and have a well-earned cup of tea

Four GoodGymmers joined other volunteers at Ray Mill Island for a spot of dry hedge building. Mick was chief engineer and stake-driver, Christine cut branches to size, whilst Anne-Laure and Sheila sorted the area around the compost bins that had become a bit of a dumping ground. Once the supporting stakes were in, the area in between could be packed with branches to the agreed height, with the aid of our boots, and hey presto, a dry hedge was born. It was much-admired by passers-by, and it has to be said, by ourselves too. Not bad for an afternoon's work

Jen and Didem were weeding wizards clearing up two area of invasive heliotrope in the rockery.

Weeding in the sunshine, by the tinkling of the water fountain and having a good chin wag was the perfect therapy for a Friday morning.

Jen, Louis and Roberta met with Shoshan our task leader for a briefing. We were joined by her two beautiful dogs, Lily and the younger, more boisterous Simba.

Our task today was a quick tour of the two new developing Fernery areas before bundling up previously collected twigs, sticks and branches into broomstick type arrangements.

We were soon joined by Sheila which meant that we could demonstrate that many hands do make light work.

A last job before we finished was watering the planters and bedding plants, so with the hosepipe ban still in place it was buckets to the rescue.

We had an impressive pile of broomsticks by the end.

Six GoodGymers met at Ray Mill Island for another round of cutting branches from the now diminishing pile of bush. Both large and small branches are being used to form a 'Fern Forest' on the side of the stream on Ray Mill Island.

The log barrier will both prevent people from going into the stream and the wood and fern will provide a habitat for insects and little creatures to flourish.

Regulars Mike, Georgeta, Sol and Diya knew the task on hand. New to Ray Mill - but not GoogGyming - Mohamud and Louis quickly joined the group, sawing and cutting branches. We filled two loads of the trolley placing the thin branches under big ones to create a tapestry (and stop kids from throwing sticks in the stream).

A nice physical activity after a day of desk work for most of us!