There was a larger team this week plus the hose splitter which helps fill up the watering cans quicker so we were able to distribute a good amount of water around the thirsty trees and shrubs this week.

GoodGym joined forces with the SNUG volunteers for the first of this summers watering sessions. An estimated 5 gallons was served up. Back next week to get a few more rounds in.

Four GoodGymers helped out again on Stoke Newington common with the local volunteer group, spending the first half of the session removing persistent bindweed from the soil surface before continuing the mulching process with some saplings along the edge of the path. Another successful session preparing for winter!

It's been a couple of months since GoodGym were last at Stoke Newington Common. With the hot dry days of summer behind us, it is not longer necessary to water the young trees. However, this weekend marked the start of mulching season at the Common and three goodgymers were on hand to help the regular Stoke Newington Common Users Group volunteers. It was great to have Kene joining us for his first ever GoodGym session. And lovely to have Rob back in the borough after some time away south of the river.

The task was to ready the trees for winter, by distributing protective and nutritious mulch around the base of the trees. This retains soil moisture, insulates root, suppresses weeds and improves the nutritional value of the soil, as the mulch decomposes.

Having collected tools from nearby Abney Park Cemetery, the group made their way to the mulch pile to load up the wheelbarrows and distribute the mulch around the trees, making sure to clear the ground first of debris and weeds. After a good hour or so, all the trees were protected and the group returned tools, just before the rain started. A good effort all round.

Next time (Saturday 1st November) - we'll be mulching the younger trees and shrubs.

Another Wednesday and the team were back at Stoke Newington Common to give the trees their weekly drink.

To Tree or not to Tree....that was the question this week as the tree team eagerly watched weather forecast and the skies alike for much anticipated rain.

But what rain came, was classified as 'piddly' and so the troops gathered once again to do the rounds with the water cart.

This week there were not one but TWO innovations introduced to the routine:

1. The much awaited very long hose, allowing one volunteer to skip the carton filling task and water the trees nearest to the water source direct from the hose.

2. Thanks to the fresh think of a new volunteer, the use of the drinking fountain as another source of water from which to fill at least 3 cartons while the others in the cart were being filled by the other hose (attached to the splitter introduced a few weeks ago).

With these new arrangements in action, cartons were filled more quickly and needed to be refilled less often before the task was complete and the team could go home, and not a raindrop in sight.