Off to Blenheim Arpley Green, just down the road in Penge. We did a little loop of the local park to stretch our legs, chatting about sports to spectate and sports to try out - the more unusual the better! With Mark about to start parkour, and liking the atmosphere at women's football matches, and Liz liking to watch a bit of kickboxing, we had plenty of skills to ponder. Arriving at the task we were warmly welcomed but a few of us vs two huge piles of woodchip - we needed to make as big a dent as we could. The aim was to shift the woodchip to newly prepared green spaces round the corner, using barrow, shovel, wheelie bin and buckets. And so we did, making quite a dent in the piles and clearing pathways to make access easier. Soon those new spaces will flourish, the trees will root deeper over the winter with better water retention, and there will be less complaints about the piles of woodchip :D The three of us set off into the night, warm from the glow of our workout and the help given.

Some stellar clearing of a couple of beds in Crystal Palace Park tonight, right next to our regular Water Tower Base haunt, and a similar task in a way.

Invisible Palace look after a bunch of flower beds around the park and are taking on one that is particularly overgrown. Their volunteers had made a great start and we were continuing to clear out grass, weeds, brambles, bindweed and a huge buddleia.

We got a good workout in and made a really big difference to the space.

Nice one team 💥

After a welcome chat at our meeting place about our favourite boardgames (from Catan and Articulate, to the Very Nasty Horse Race and Bananagrams) we trotted off up Penge High Street towards Cator Park.

We wondered on the way if we've seen the last of the hot weather - good for plants, good for those running the Big Half in a few weeks, but bad for it being the end of summer already if so.

We arrive at the park and headed over to the Tiny Forest - pleased to see how much the trees have shot up since we were last there. Millie reminds us that we want the tree roots to plunge down deep, so could we empty a bucket of water round each tree if possible. We started with the smallest trees, those in the shadiest spots, and did a bit of weeding around too.

A couple of us move over to the park edge, trimming back the hedge so we can see the millennium marker again, and chopping back holly from the pavement side too, to help pedestrians fighting for space on the path, til the next time the council can cut it all back to the fence.

After buckets and buckets of water have been filled and emptied over and over, we say our goodbyes and head home. Thanks all, and see you next time!