As much as I’d like to say that it’s always sunny in Horsenden, today it would have been a difficult statement to defend. The early morning welcomed Ealing with showers, so we were prepared to face the Saturday task at the farm in pretty damp conditions. Lucky for us, the rain stopped, leaving behind just a grey sky and lots of mud (dangerously obscuring deposits of cow muck!). None of that deferred most of the GoodGymers who signed up for the volunteering day, including two new starters, Ash and Melissa - well done to both for showing up!

Since the regular volunteers managed to complete moving bricks and other items to make space for a farm trailer before 10 am, Elsa from Friends of Horsenden Hill had a different job for us up her sleeve: a bramble bash! She warned us about cows hanging out on the other side of the fence enclosing the paddock where we would be working. The Shetland rare breed bovines, working at the farm in the nature conservation department and grazing the meadows, were supposed to be easy-going gals, but Elsa suggested that we should give them space in case they go for a walk outside their enclosure - which they did!

Just when we moved the wheelbarrow over the narrow gate to the paddock and stopped for the task briefing, the cows appeared on the Horsendens Gruffalo Trail, approaching us cautiously. Uh oh, what now? We made the perfect impression of minding our own business, hoping that the animals would do the same. They got the hint and ventured as a pack to another pasture.

Meanwhile, Ash and Sevan missed the encounter, busy with a bonus task: moving gravel onto the edge of the road to the farm to redirect the rainwater towards the canal to prevent flooding. They joined the rest of the group later for the bramble bash and watched the cattle from a distance.

Having cleared a good section of the paddock and built a higher dead hedge on the other side of the fence, we traditionally returned to the farm’s hub to order pizzas, coffee and beer, then sat in the shelter area for the team lunch. We got to know better the new farm volunteers whom we met at the session, shared interesting things to do in Ealing, and spoke about cycle paths and trails along the green spaces in the borough. The conversation inspired some of us to go for a walk on top of Horsenden Hill and enjoy the view.

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Won't be needing the gym today! Everyone was friendly and I feel we got alot done. Somehow ended up with mud inside my wellies lol. - Ash

We will be back at Horsenden next month on the first Saturday as usual - if what we do sounded like fun to you, join us for the task and team lunch with pizza. Sign up here!

For half of the eight GoodGymers, who visited Western Road on a chilly Saturday morning, the day started with parkrun. The nearby Southall Park event celebrated its 200th occasion and 4th birthday. Sevan and Steph Ducat couldn't miss the opportunity and ran to volunteer at the parkrun, while Richard, one of the GoodGym new joiners, ran the course. Chris also decided to begin the morning with a parkrun, but his local Gunnersbury one, from where he cycled to Southall. Iram also came on her bike, and Kash ran from Ealing along the canal.

There has already been plenty of activity just to reach Western Road, and the 3-hour session ahead would involve even more exercise. Fortunately, Janpal from Southall Community Alliance, the organiser of the community day at the urban garden, came prepared with a fruit bowl, tea, coffee, pastries and samosas to keep the energy levels high!

The January session meant preparations for the next season's food growing, and our team focused on the central veg bed in the polytunnel. First, we removed last year's stakes and remaining chili plants, and then topped the beds with a super-nutritious mix of three layers:

1. Rich magic soil donated by the police
2. Potent manure, marinated for a year
3. Good, old woodchip

While the rest of the team got busy carrying and tipping bags with soil, Iram and Sophie were picking chili peppers from the bush to save their seeds for growing next season's crops. Despite the temperature in the polytunnel being 5 degrees (so noticeably warmer than outside), chili-picking was brutal for the fingers with no gloves on. Sophie later wholeheartedly welcomed the manure-shovelling as a more dynamic alternative, where she could keep moving and stay warm.

Winter or not, the day brought to the Western Road Urban Garden not only the core crew: Janpal, Paul and Ash, along with the eight GoodGymers, but also a group of volunteers from Let's Go Southall and Mr Bhasin from neighbouring Manor Way Allotments. What a turnout! With such a strong team, we finished not one, but all three veg beds - and all the samosas - in no time! It was great to see guests from GoodGym Hounslow, Chris and Maxime, and welcome Richard and Sophie to our Ealing team.

Ash has shared the plans for the first quarter of the year - one of them involves an exciting shed building project! Meanwhile, our February session will feature clearing the space for the shed and for replanting part of the native hedge. Join us next month to get involved in the bold plans at WRUG. We've been working with them from the start for two years now, and know that visiting the garden regularly is the best way to see the astonishing transformations between the seasons!