Our task was to build and fill a raised bed for the residents of Gale Farm Court to enjoy.

The group initially split in half. One team cleared the ground for the bed, while the rest of the gang carried the pre-cut railway sleepers around to the yard, ready for assembly. They resisted the temptation to start a game of giant Jenga, and instead did some token weeding between the patio stones while the clearing team finished up - at least Paul Kelly did. Everyone else might have stood around debating the logistics of assembling a raised bed.

John and Katie became chief bed builders and everyone else got to work shifting a tonne of soil into the yard, initially by shovel and wheelbarrow, and latterly by dragging the half-emptied sack around and tipping it into the completed bed.

Just over an hour later our job was done and it was time to run home for tea.