Even the chilly wind could not spoil the first conservation day of spring 2026 at Grove Farm nature reserve. A bright, sunny Saturday was the perfect time for maintenance jobs Friends of Grove Farm needed help with.

Sevan and Steph gave Mike a hand with sawing off branches of fallen trees obstructing the paths, while Breda, Shubham, Purva, Kash and Portia cleared the side of a woodland walkway to access the ditch, which no longer looked like a ditch. The trench, intended to collect rainwater, had become overgrown and filled with mud from the path. The job was to scrape and dig it with a mattock, a spade and a fork. The GoodGymers discovered that the drainage under a small wooden bridge over the path was all full of compressed soil, and decided to unblock it too. It was a proper workout, leading to some seriously muddy shoes, but also successful restoration of the drainage.

Before running or walking to their next thing, the GoodGymers visited the wood anemones patch they had been clearing off brambles during the winter months. Now, the entire slope was full of white flowers that managed to come out, without having to fight for sunlight with their spiky competitors. What an amazing display of natural beauty it was!

It was a unseasonably chilly night in Hounslow last night, and after a day of hail showers, it didn't make for the most inviting conditions for an outdoor group session. But there was a job to be done, and Team GoodGym turned up to do it!

The task was an important one - brightening up Turnham Green and improving its biodiversity. Thanks to the Friends group, there had been a load of cowslip seedlings getting big and strong in Jan's attic, waiting for the moment they could be planted in the wild. With the warmer weather arriving (not much sign of it last night though!), their time had come.

Armed with headtorches, spades and enthusiasm, a hardy team of 12 began planting with speed and efficiency.

It took record time to get them all in the ground, and task owner Jan had this to say:

"The team were great this evening! 145 little cowslips planted in half an hour. Big thank you to everyone!"

Fantastic work everybody, another job that will improve the lives of the local community in the bag.

Next week (we're off to finish the painting job we started at Strand on the green) [https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/finishing-up-the-painting-at-strand-on-the-green-school)

Mission Report: Tidy up garden cuttings for Mr F (wk1) — Tidying up the patio will mean Mr F can get outside Date: 21-Mar-2026 Requesting Organisation: Richmond Good Neighbours Objective: To assist Mr F with garden maintenance by cutting up garden cuttings and preparing them for council collection. Summary of Task: Following a request from Richmond Good Neighbours, I attended Mr F’s property to provide support to bag up garden cuttings and clear patio. The primary task involved cutting down accumulated garden cuttings into manageable sizes and placing them into appropriate bags for council pickup. Actions Taken: • Cut and reduced larger branches and plant material into smaller, manageable pieces • Bagged all suitable garden waste in accordance with council collection guidelines • Ensured the area was left tidy and accessible for collection services • Larger branches left for Mr F to cut down with chainsaw Outcome: The task was completed successfully, with all garden cuttings processed and bagged. Mr F’s patio is now clear of loose debris.
Apologies - I forgot to take before pictures. Only could provide after shots. Report Prepared By: Breda Crehan