After some demanding sessions clearing the planters outside Surbiton Library in all weathers, we returned for the most rewarding stage of all on a beautiful evening as we finished them with flowers for the summer.

It wasn’t all easy; they first needed to be filled up with enough earth. Luke, Emma and Helen excelled themselves, carrying wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of soil through from behind the library and emptying them out.

Claire, Jo, Julie and Tom started off putting the first plants in before attempting to recreate a mirror image of salvias, bushes, marigolds and petunias in the opposing beds, while Rachel tidied the existing beds.

It served to really brighten up the view outside the library, and hopefully they’ll continue to bloom over the next few months.

The GoodGym flowerbed had become a little full of weeds over the Spring so it was time for a tidy up and the sun was shining so we got stuck in.

We tackled some well known weeds with very long roots that went on for ever, the dreaded bind weed and brambles.

Having cleared the weeds it was time to plant some new plants to bring some extra colour.

Sabir and Claire then headed off to collect some woodchip and Melissa and Julie headed to the river accompanied by our 4 legged helpers for water to water in our new plants.

Having laid the woodchip and watered the plants it was time to leave and hope that the plants will continue to flourish.

Tonight Claire, Rachel, Julie and Dave started with a warm up before running over to Searchlight where we were joined by Luke en route.

Emily, Jade, Petra and Sabir joined us there where Martel explained our task. We were required to do some heavy duty weeding to clear a bed so that flax could be grown as part of a Ukrainian refugee project by community groups. It will then be harvested to make a community patchwork.

We all got stuck in; Luke removed a massive plant whilst the rest is us tackled the long grass and rubbish.

Meanwhile Dave looked at how they could make a raised bed for wheelchair users.

After an hour the weeds were on the compost heap and once dug over the bed will be ready for planting.