Twas a green, grassy and glorious Richmond Group Run, with runners, walkers and cyclists gracing our sponsored plots in Buccleuch Gardens, Richmond for a spot of evening weeding.

It was a task of two grassy halves. Starting at the Arcade everyone dropped to ground level and used cutlery knives to lever out plantains from the Arcade lawn. Hunter was definitely not the only one assuming a downwood dog position.

At the Three Pigeons Plot , the weeding was reversed with the main aim removing unwanted grass. Thankfully, this was somewhat easier and more dignified.

Welcome newcomers Georgie and Naomi who proved to be naturals at plantain pulling and grass busting . A shout out for Teresa who achieved a perfect 10 for her work clearing around the bollard at The Three pigeons. And we were all in awe and wish the very best of luck to our run leader and area activator Liz who revealed she has qualified for the Hyrox World Championships in Nice in June.

Gorgeous flowers spotted but not identified during the task included Veronica (spike speedwell), a compact perennial with a spike of pink flowers and purple Centaurea, a perennial cornflower with vivid, heliotrope purple, thistle-like petals.

Muchas Gracias to The Tap Tavern for allowing us to stow bags and for hosting our monthly social after the Group Run.

Lunchtime gardening mission preparing for the evening Group Run session in our sponsored plots in Buccleuch Gardens, Richmond.

Anita tidied and swept the Arcade, picked up litter, strengthened the ‘twiggy barricades’, planted woodruff and replaced the withy triffid that has mysteriously disappeared along with some of the new planting near the Arcade Rockery bench.

Breakfast gardening session extended into lunchtime in order to complete the planting (vinca, Robinea and choisya, relocate stachys , sow honesty and phaccilia seeds and water-in all the new planting.

Coffee and blueberry muffin provided much needed caffeine and energy for about a dozen trips to draw water from the river.

Carrying on from the earlier breakfast session at The Arcade Rockery in Buccleuch Gardens, Anita continued with weeding and clearing and managed to plant out:

2 ‘triffid’ plant supports 8 heuchera 6 hebe 8 ajuga reptens 3 Sarcococca (Christmas box) 1 verbena A bag full of spring bulbs

There are still 8 vinca, 3 pachysandra and 4 Robinia to plant so there will be another breakfast session tomorrow for planting and watering-in.

Sadly no coffee and muffins during this mission however they may be on the menu again tomorrow morning.

Prep work for planting in GG Richmond’s sponsored plots in Buccleuch Gardens: Mainly weeding and digging holes but hard work rewarded by an al fresco breakfast of coffee and muffin