Our second GG Swindon group run started with everyone giving an interesting fact about themselves. Saving the best until last, Stuart wowed everyone with his very close horizontal encounter with Ricky Gervais, we await more details. We were joined by GG tourist and Swindon first timer Tina and two Wootton Bassett Hounds, Fran and Jon. Welcome along.

It was 2 miles uphill all the way to Penhill, so it was nice to get there and meet Glynis to hear about the history of Penhill Haven, the wildlife and the Bee Roadzz. Paul was about start pulling out all the weeds and nettles when Glynis taught him, and everyone else, a valuable lesson:

What is a weed? At least 5 butterfly species rely on nettles for survival!

So the nettles were left well alone and only the dead plants removed and rubbish cleared. Lewis cracked the purple paint pots out, yes that’s purple Lewis, and all the raised beds and picnic tables were painted along with most runners hands and legs too of course.

Is it OK to paint a snail or do we have to paint round it?! - Daniel

There are lots of nooks and crannies in this small place and although that’s good to keep GGers in check, sometimes people (Helen and Emma (Sanderson) especially) did tend to end up hidden behind tall grass and even pop up from behind a stack of tyres unexpectedly. We didn’t lose sight of ‘Crazy Legs’ Emily of course.

Even in the short time we were there, it is clear there is wildlife thriving with butterflies flapping around and someone exclaiming….

A frog, it’s a frog, didn’t expect to see that!

Whilst others industriously got on with the work at hand. Lily = grafter! There is still a lot of work to do in future repairing the broken bench seats and clearing some of the grass so that the Haven becomes more accessible. So...

We will be back!

It was great to get our first proper group picture at the end of the task in the low sun in front of the nice freshly painted and cleared vegetable bed. Thumbs up to Greg for stopping around to help clear up the brushes and paint pots.

On the way back half the group went off to do some sprints on Seven Fields (with super speedy Jason running to the max) and we all made it back just in time to do some quick stretches and a chat in the café before it closed.

Huge well done to everyone. It feels like we are properly up and running now and made a nice positive difference to the local community. Bring on next week, building sheds at Playsteps Day Nursery, something everyone agreed we have zero experience in! Please bring a shed savvy friend!