On a gorgeous wintry sunny Saturday morning, five GGers turned out for the last Ham Lands visit of 2025. Adam, James, Harrison Susannah and Alex were tasked with helping the Friends of Ham clear one of the beautiful paths in the Ham Lands, which were overgrown with brambles. Armed with choppers and other gardening equipment we set about this onerous mission, however, it is always surprising how much we get through in just a short period of time.
Once done, we were suitable looked after by Sharon and the Friends of Ham, supplied with festive mince pies, coffees and teas. If that is not an incentive for coming again, I don't know what is. Bramble On!

A lovely morning on the Ham Lands saw 8 happy GGers join the FOHL for our monthly session of habitat management.

We were back in the same spot as the last 2 sessions, working on the patches of wild clematis where the plants had been cleared away but the roots threatened to spring back to life if not tackled.

We got to work armed with various kinds of pick and scoopy-pick-thing and soon started to make progress. The challenge was chasing the roots up from the ground - many of them ran a long way through the earth like electrical wiring - but our patience paid off as we dug channels to get them free.

With 8 of us making a big effort we got a lot of the roots out of the ground and Sharon rewarded us with a lovely cuppa and biscuits.

Next time back at the Ham Lands will be the last of the year - hope to see lots of people there!

On Saturday morning 4 GGers from Richmond arrived at Homemead Residential Care home ready to get stuck in to tidying and sprucing up the garden.

However, the changes had been rung at Homemead as new resident Eric had appointed himself Head Gardener and had done a lot of work getting the garden into good shape.

We were introduced to Eric who made it clear in no uncertain terms that our services would be neither required nor welcome… in fact we would be “booted out” in future! He was actually hilarious and a lovely chap…we think 😆