Certainly a fresh evening on our group run night but thankfully no rain this week. Back to Vine Close where we have been several times before clearing branches and sticks. I went to the Quaker Centre starting point but it was a solo mission up to the task as everyone had arranged to meet there and there no unexpected runners.

When I arrived, Emily, Tara, Laurel and Elliot were waiting for me. We said a quick hello before heading into the community garden to see what tasks needed to be done. Henry arrived in time for Elliot's introduction and we were handed loppers and choppers to carry on with our task of clearing the site.

Emily grabbed the broom and cleared the path to reduce the trip risk if the older residents wanted to visit the site. Tara, Henry, Laurel and I went to the compost area and started dragging out the waste that needed to be removed. We soon filled two large waste bags with sticks, brambles and twigs, and had moved the larger branches to the wood pile.

Laurel mentioned she had discovered a lizard on the road and had taken it home to care for it before releasing it back into the wild. After photo evidence, Elliot confirmed it was a newt and said that they were hibernating much later as it had been so warm this last few months. He also showed photos of a bat he had fostered as it had sadly got injured when it was caught in a window. Hopefully both creatures will be enjoying the community garden - let's hope we can get it sorted for them in time for Spring.

The bugs of Canbury gardens are in for a treat this winter. A nice cosy hotel for them to hide away in, courtesy of Goodgym Kingston 5* hotel building team. Whilst Emily dug out a basement level, Henry snd Rob went scavenging for large logs. Henry then got sawing up his find, and we eventually burried it underneath the structure. Next level, ground floor, was leaves packed in between the planks, for hopefully some little mammals to hideaway in. First floor consisted of large sticks with leaves and bark stuffed between. Second floor, large stones, bits of rubble, and broken tiles. Third floor, smaller sticks and leaves and bark. Fourth floor, mixture of chopped wood, pine cones, bark, twigs and feathers. And finally the roof garden, more wood, tiles bark with soil and grass ontop for a living roof. Down the side are more large logs chopped up, and a pile of bricks too for added support.

Also burried in what will hopefully be successful nice looking patterns are 60 bulbs, donated to us by the Canbury gardens volunteers team leader Trevor, so thank you Trev and your group for these!

Feel free to stop by at anytime and check it out.