attempt #3 - something seems against me writing this!

Last week when out & about with the Wanstead Comunity Gardeners we noticed that the plots between the George & the station could do with some attention - so much litter.

So we set off from base and made our way to the George, clearing the different plots of (most of) the rubbish, finishing off checking out the planters around the station as well.

3 bags dropped at the bin for the Council to collect, it was time to drop off the kit and make our way to Leytonstone for the little social gathering there.

P.S.... yes, there was a birthday to celebrate, even a little cake, but being modest (and camera shy?) etc we didn't end up singing & pictures etc.

next time - Wanstead Community House can do with a little tidy up

Earlier this month Marian, from the Wanstead Community Gardeners, got in touch to see if we could pop round to give them a hand.

Marian affectionately calls us her 'muscle', we normally get called in for the heavier digging & carrying etc. to assist the team.

This evening the targets were 2 sets of 2 planters, installed by the council but not really looked after - so in steps the WCG crew! We split up, Sam & Vicky joined Rosemary (no time jokes) at the Gail's planters while Kathryn & myself joined Marian at the George.

Ivy was cleared, top inch or so of soil dug up and mulch mixed in, ready for the planting of geraniums in the next few days.

Dirt swept up, soil & green waste & tools dropped off back at WCG base, it was time to make a move. Too hot & humid for a run, it was decided people made their own way home again, run & walk & ride...

Job well done, thanks ladies.

Title credit goes to Linda when she saw some pics on the WhatsApp chat.

The Wanstead Community Gardeners put out a call for assistance with tackling a rose bush/tree growing through and over another tree. Sounds relatively straightforward, but as usual not quite that simple... We started with picking up some tools, with a ladder being delivered as well. The tricky part turned out to find a safe stable base for the ladder to be able to reach up and 'attack' the inch thick branches overhead.

We managed a fair amount, filling up most of a large builders bag with chopped up branches before admitting defeat and tidy up.

Final verdict: this might be a job for the experts!

After an urgent quick fix last Tuesday, this evening was part two of sorting out the former water tanks turned into planters at the station.

They had been knocked off their bricks during work being done nearby. Back on bricks the target tonight was to make sure they were stable and safe for planting again.

So the muscle crew assembled, gathered some wood for support, slid the smaller planter aside over the wood, rearranged the bricks and moved the planter back in position. Luckily the big one was already stable, it might have been a bit too heavy for the 2 of us!

Task done, we headed off for a relaxed walk / jog, James kindly going easy on still recovering me.

P.S. since both of us had our hands full, no action pics - a few nature shots from our run instead.

In the spirit of #NoMowMay the Wanstead Community Gardeners and in particular Cedric created a leaflet to help convince local residents to help Mother Nature a bit more by a few little changes in looking after their gardens.

Next step, how to get the info to the residents.... up steps Goodgym!

So James & Peter joined Cedric for a jog round the target area. Couple of hundred leaflets and 3 miles later 2 boxes of leaflets were emptied.

The 3rd box was split up to be done in smaller sessions yet to come.

When the Wanstead Community Gardners needed some furniture moving to help them celebrate their 21st birthday of course Marian called in her reliable "Heavy Mob" GoodGym.

5 of us made our way to a local address where Peter picked up two tables, Ed popped another two on to a small trolley and James grabbed two chairs which left Linda and Sibel a cushion each and they thoroughly enjoyed the unfair division of labour 😂.

Back at The Corner House we met Helen and Cedric. Helen joined us setting up the tables and chairs before being called away to help the task owner with something. Cedric had brought some compost and disappeared off to deposit it somewhere useful to the community gardeners.

There was a little waiting around until the gazebos arrived but when they did we soon had them put up with a little improvisation for a couple of missing parts. We are nothing if not resourceful in GoodGym.