...Gun!

Second Monday of the Month so Liz led GoodGym Richmond’s Group Run from the Tap Tavern out along the Thames Thames path towards our sponsored plots in Buccleuch Gardens where the main task was watering, trying to get as many plants as possible through this latest heatwave.

Liz, Anita, Honor, Sarah Jane, Africa, Suze, Adam, Harry and Steph were able to create a human chain, filling watering cans and trugs with muddy Thames water to give the Three Pigeons Plot a really good soaking. There was also time for weeding, washing-up used plant pots and taking some much needed water to the Arcade planters and around some of the benches.

Our Social afterwards was a trip to the nearby cinema to see The Naked Gun where row D was entirely GG red and the laughs distracted us (and hopefully everyone else in the cinema) from the aroma of mud, sweat and Eau de Thames.

We had perfect conditions for our return visit to Chiswick House last night, which was good news as we had a huge job to do!

The carriageway into the grounds is lined with beautiful plane trees. Fun fact - did you know London Planes can grow to 35 metres and live for several hundred years? Which means they need a bit of care and attention.

We were met with Chris, Chiswick House's gardener, who explained the job was to cut away the shoots from the trees' trunks. Or epicormic growth, if we're being fancy!

We cleared away the clippings and then got to work giving the trees a good pruning, able assisted by Chiswick House's excellent range of dog visitors.

There were some excellent techniques getting as much as humanely possible into the ton bags, and some very professional lopping on display too. Great work everybody!

Next week we're back to do one of our favourite tasks - washing the Turnham Green mural. Fingers crossed the weather is kind to us...

Five Goodgymers went on a trek along the River Crane to tackle Himalayan balsam for the Friends of the River Crane (FORCE). On a humid summer day we dawned our long sleeves and trouser to pick the invasive balsam out from sky high nettles and brambles. It was prickly business. It seems endless but we managed to clear a large section along the Crane and go home to lick our wounds.