Nothing goes to waste in Ms D’s lovingly created front garden where discarded furniture has been reused to provide a welcoming space surrounded by planters upcycled from unwanted bowls, tubs, buckets and even an old wheelbarrow. It was a pleasure to help tidy up and add a few more bulbs ready for springtime. We worked as a team, me doing the bending, lifting and sweeping while Ms D made trips to her back garden to collect compost – being a sustainability champion, she of course gathers all fallen leaves, twigs and plant trimmings to rot down as a useful nutrient-rich additive for her soil. A couple of hours work and everything was looking much more pleasant for herself and her neighbours!

A delayed start due to overnight frost but then the sun came out, the ground thawed, volunteers gathered equipped with spades, arm-power and goodwill – and within an hour our mammoth sapling planting project was finished! Around 350 native trees now form part of the hedgerow bordering the northern expanse of Ladywell Fields, following the last of three recent sessions, helped this time by GoodGymers Khai and Linda.

The saplings – just bare slender whips at the moment – will soon start to bud when the growing season gets under way, making this popular green space even more attractive for both people and wildlife, as well as increasing leafy carbon absorption to help mitigate climate change.

Needing to move to safer accommodation, Ms E has been having a clear out and had two full bags ready for us to take to a clothing bank — where her unwanted items will be sent for recycling — as well as a rubbish bag for the dustbin. This was a quick task for Linda and Mina so we had time for a chat with Ms E about the benefits of having a friendly pet cat at home for company.

Proving that young and old alike can gain a feel-good buzz from caring for the environment, another big team of volunteers got together to plant hedgerow saplings in Ladywell Fields today. Special moments for me included guiding an enthusiastic four year old as he planted his first tree and welcoming a grandad visiting from New Zealand who was curious enough to want to help out. With around 300 new native saplings now in the ground – adding more than 70 metres of wildlife-friendly carbon-absorbing hedgerow in this popular green space – we’re all looking forward to spotting the first buds appearing on their stems when the growing season starts.