In the past we have done a couple of missions on the Ham Lands which involved clearing tree suckers, the new growth which sprouts up from the root system around the base of a tree.

(Ordinarily, a tree will always seek to create a balance between its growth above ground and its root system below ground. Suckers are essentially a tree’s attempt to produce more above-ground growth when that balance is disrupted, for example when the tree itself is damaged or has constrained growth.)

Both of the previous missions were written up with the title “So long, suckers” (the second one maybe accompanied by a “2”). And let’s be honest, there is no better title - so out it comes again for this new report.

The task itself was enjoyable and satisfying, with a nice big clump of suckers to remove which the 5 of us tackled with gusto, some clipping the suckers away at the base and others loading up the big sack to carry the waste off to dump in the woods. We then got to work on some brambles with mattocks - seeking in their case to get the whole roots out.

After an hour of quite vigorous work we headed to the Swiss Bakery for delicious coffee and a nice chat. It was great to have Harry back amongst us after a spell, and we look forward to another task in October - sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/helping-the-happy-ham-landers-7d9e7187-09f0-4535-a025-40b37c6e0552

On Saturday afternoon, four GoodGymmers went to help out at the Hope Church in Hounslow. We had been asked to help clear the garden, a lovely outdoor area that was in need of some TLC, following the winter.

The spring sunshine was beaming down on us as we met Claire the Vicar, who set us up for the afternoon. Firstly, we moved the basketball net so we could get to the raised beds, as we had been asked to help clear the overgrown weeds that were creeping up around the planters. Gloves on, Augustin, Harrison, Lucy and Michelle filled wheelbarrows with weeds and moved them to an ever-growing compost area.

Once we had tackled the raised beds, there was another section of the garden overgrown with nettles and sticky weed and thistles. These were no match for us, as we got acquainted with the choppers and rakes and cleared as much as we could in the time we had. We chatted about football and marathons, and a bit like poor Leicester City will be this season, the weeds were soon relegated to the compost heap.

Claire had hoped we could go a great job, and we showed mettle with those nettles, and the difference was clear to see. She was very impressed and thanked us for our hard work, before we went our separate ways back to enjoy the rest of the day.

After a few days of sunshine during the week it was cooler and overcast on the Ham Lands Saturday morning as 4 of GG Richmond's finest gathered for our monthly habitat preservation work.

This month, we were tasked with tackling an area of brambles. We did this with loppers and rakes, occasionally yelping when attacked by one of the thorny tendrils.

The job was going well and we built up a few large piles of the brambles we had removed, before realising that we did not have the large canvas sacks with us to transport the brambles away from the clearing to the undergrowth.

We overcame the issue with a series of trips carrying brambles by garden fork, rake or in armfuls and soon got the job done.

Time for a quick cup of tea and group photo and we were off to enjoy our weekends!

What looked like it might turn out to be a pleasant morning surprised the 5 GoodGymers who met at Richmond station to go leafleting - the temperature stayed unpleasantly low and it was quite gusty. But the weather didn't dampen our spirits as we set out armed with a pack each of leaflets from the Richmond Good Neighbours charity. We headed to the streets off the Kew Road, one of Richmond GG's happy hunting grounds for leafleting, and split into teams.

Adam and Luis started off going to the southerly roads while Cathy, Harry and JP tackled those further up the main road. Around half-way through we met up again, crossed the Kew Road and weaved our way through the residential areas on the other side.

We finished up after around an hour having delivered the vast majority of our leaflets, with Cathy offering to take the surplus back to ETNA. Then we headed on our way to enjoy the rest of Saturday and the weekend!