When I arrived I removed rubbish from a plot and started to rotate the soil, ready for planting seeds. Using the rotavator to break down the soil. After this I used the strimmer to cut back all the long grass around the borders to the path and at the perimeter nearing the fence. This was raked (& Swept) into piles. I moved a incinerator to a suitable position away from overhanging trees and rested this onto a platform of bricks. This allowed my co worker to get set on burning all the cuttings we had accumulated over the past weeks. All in all a thoroughly positive day shared by those I met who were also working on there plots.

When I arrived I got to work with the strimmer and cut back overgrown weeds and long grass. Making sure the paths were clear and redefining the borders to patches and paths running in-between them. The waste was raked into piles and cleared to be taken away and discarded.

Tonight was night of firsts

• We had Thomas and Priya join us for the first GoodGym session - great to have you both join us tonight.

• We were doing our first group run session to Raggy Rd Allotments

• My first night of trying to speak Spanish, Parsi and English all at the same time!

We met at Salt Hill Activity Centre and as each member joined us we did a round robin of introductions. Firmo, Jason and Zoe were all recent returnees and it was great to have them back.

With a task overview and route overview loosely given, we were ready to do a warm up. My favorite warm up game of head, shoulders, knees, toes and cone followed by mirror image of exercises! Keith and Firmo looked like they had a dance routine going on! Bravo to you all!

Thyme to grow…

Even though Keith has only been with us since September he did a great job of leading the runners to the task location which I back marked. Keith has actually helped out a few times at this task at the weekends so he actually knew it better than I did. Thank you Keith for being a great help tonight.

On arrival at the task location, we met task owner Anita who gave us an overview of what she’d like done.

• Cutting back of brambles;

• Removal of rubbish;

• Removal of pallets and tyres;

• General cut back of trees;

• Removal of wood;

The bramble bashing was quickly taken on by Keith, Firmo and Jason and they did a remarkable job of getting so much of it cut back

Zoe didn’t tyre of the tasks she was assigned! Lifting and shifting items including two large tyres - who needs bootcamp when you have GoodGym

Priya did a fab job of clearing one plot of all plastic rubbish - nothing beets a bit of gardening prep!

Tom was just the man for the pallets! Carried like a true expert he easily transported them from the plot to the tip! Top job! I hope they all stacked up ok?

Mehdi and Jean did a bit of this and a bit of that! Mehdi was making sure everyone had the necessary wheelbarrow license and Jean was on wood duty! Moving it around into piles for burning and tipping.

In our alloted time slot we managed to do allot

With a quick tidy up and group photo taken we headed back to our meet up location.

Next week we are meeting on a Tuesday night as its a bank holiday on the Monday.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions

Thank you all for your efforts tonight.

Keith made a solo effort this week to help Anita at Raggy Road allotment prepare their newly acquired plot.

Today's mammoth task was to dig a path to the plot so it is accessible for the elderly and vulnerable people who tend the allotment to help their mental health and wellbeing.

It's so satisfying seeing the progress being made as the new plot develops.

Keith up the good work and hopefully more people can sign up for our next two sessions there on Saturday 27th April and Monday 29th April.