Part of the RSPB big bird watch, counting birds to check on species and numbers across the UK.

Part of the RSPB big bird watch, counting birds to check on species and numbers across the UK.

Today’s task had us swapping trainers for binoculars as we took part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. Our mission was simple: keep our eyes peeled, count the birds we spotted, and submit our findings to help track the UK’s bird population.

A few of us met in Marble Hill Park and we perched ourselves in prime viewing spots and soon we spotted a variety of familiar faces – from black crows, parakeets, robins and seagulls – all going about their daily beak-ness.

The task was a nice change of pace: calm, mindful, and a great reminder to slow down and appreciate nature. All observations were logged and submitted to the RSPB, helping them build a clearer picture of how our garden birds are doing. Overall, a very tweet task, well worth flocking to.

One GoodGymer was at Hatherop Park helping the Friends of Hatherop Park coppice some trees on another wet day in the end. The weather started out dry at first but that did not last. Me, myself and I cut away the ash trees to open the nature reserve up to some light.

One GoodGymer coppiced trees in the wet, wet, wet conditions for Friends of Hatherop Park in the forest. They are turning an abandoned bit of wasteland into a nature reserve and the stand of ash trees needs to be cut to let more diversity come in. A fair amount was done despite the rain. Time for some hot tea!

Following on from the great work done by the team in Saturday's Community Mission, four of us headed to INS in Twickenham to finish up the painting of the stairwell, cutting in and rolling where the tape had been carefully laid on Saturday.

It's a busy centre with a lot of use and a coat of paint goes a long way to freshen things up from scuffs and bumps! A satisfying job for a wet Monday night.