We had to change the task this evening from a group run to a community mission as the allotments have no lighting and with it getting darker earlier (what's up with that!!!!! So not ready for the darker nights)... we needed the extra day time hours to do the task safely...

So we all made our own way to Cherry Orchard Allotments and got to work on plot 5 bed 4. Thankfully the soil was soft this time (last month is was rock hard!).

It was great to see the progress the task owner Home Start Slough have made on the plots..

We spent an hour chatting, digging, pulling the weeds and just catching up on life.

As the light faded we stopped and got ready to leave.

Next week we have a new task owner (Food Cycle Slough) who would like their new food service promotion so we will be delivering their flyers for them around Salt hill and Baylis area.

There seems to be a link with extreme weather and the allotments task. Last month we had the heaviest downpour and this evening we had the hottest day of the year!

Sandy and I met at Salt Hill park at 18:15 ready to run out by 18:30 to meet Jen and Peter directly at the task.

On arrival we could see the lovely progress made to plot 5 by the Home Start Slough team.

The plot we were working on tonight was solid as a rock! The dry weather had certainly taken its toll on the ground.

That said Jen and Peter in particular did an outstanding job of clearing half the plot.

It's July! yet we battled with a heavy heavy downpour this evening just as Jean and I were driving to our meet up point.

We were discussing if we were going to walk or run the 1.5km to the task when suddenly out of nowhere the sky turned grey and it started pletting it down!

With messages rolling in from the rest of the team who had signed up asking if we were aborting!

Abort abort abort!

We turned to plan B which was for Jean and I to drive to the allotments and wait for a break in the weather and hopefully get a bit of the task done...

Plan C it is

With no break in the weather... we resulted in having a lovely chatty catchup before calling it a day! Plan D is to reschedule for another day!

This evening we were back out at the allotments helping Home Start Berkshire East with their Slough Womens Allotment Project.

It was great to have Zoe back for her 3rd session and to see Sandy after a little break.

Zoe, Sandy and I met at the top of Shaggy Calf Lane and did a walk/run to the allotments and Pam met us directly there.

Our task was to turn over the soil and remove as many weeds as we could.

At first glance the soil looked very dry and we thought allota effort was going to be needed, but actually most the soil was relatively soft which made the task easier.

With lots of chats of slugs and bugs and how best to remove them in the most eco friendly way - you really do learn allot at a GoodGym session.

Within 45 minutes we had nearly turned over the whole bed and it was time to pack up and head off - Weed done it!

Next week we are helping The Ujala Foundation with their garden space.

Tonight we were back helping Home Start East Berkshire with their Slough Allotment Project.

We had the task of digging up the grass on plot 5 and with 9 of us in tow we managed to get two beds over turned.

It was great to have Priya return for her second task.

We were so pleased to have Mansoor join us via Stoke Park Active - thank you Clare for bringing Mansoor along.

The task was pretty straightforward but with very dry soil it took allot of effort in turning it over.

Jason had a cracking technique at skimming the top then digging the grass roots out accompanied by Keith who also gave the task some backbone!

Kam and Jean who I classify as my gardening gnome it alls knew exactly what to dig and what to leave!

Thank you all for your efforts tonight.

Next week is bank holiday Monday but the session is still on - we will be combining a fitness session with a litter pick task at Upton Court Park.

A little bit more progress was made in clearing the ground of weeds for Slough Home Start this evening before the rain came. An excellent core workout