We met up with Ken in Surbiton on a chilly Saturday morning to assist with coppicing hazel. We met in a housing estate which threw us off the meeting point as it seemed an unlikely place when the local park was a few hundred metres away. It was correct though as behind a fence there was a small parcel of land that had been sold off to developers. Ken was allowed access to collect hazel stakes and sticks for his dead hedge project in Petersham Common.

Ken explained how vital the hedges were for wildlife and showed us how to use the different hand tools correctly so we didn't hurt ourselves when we cut the sticks. After the talk we set to work coppicing the sticks and taking off the small branches and twigs so it was smooth. This was so the sticks could be woven into the hedge creating an environment that the wildlife loves.

It took about an hour and a half and in that time Ken had started a fire, boiled water and made us a round of hot drinks. Delicious! Especially with a vegan Oreo.

The report is more courtesy of the task owner and the only GG man left standing after the sign ups dropped away!

Great workDominic and thanks for the photos and summary Fiona

'Only one helped but Dom made up for that- we managed to clear an impassable path'

3 Goodgym folk met on a humid and sticky Sunday morning to help with some bramble management. We met at the path by the Hogsmill river and Melanie started with the brambles by the river with Alison from Kingston Biodiversity Network and Marie-Noelle (on her first task with Goodgym - welcome!) and Caroline joined the second group at Kingston cemetery. The idea was to tame the brambles to allow the other plants a chance to flower and attract all manner of pollinators. It seemed to be working as we spotted loads of flying insects including bees and damselflies. Melanie and her group joined the cemetery team after clearing a safe path for walkers along the river and we were soon hacking away at a wall of thorns. Having picked up a fair few scratches and stings (the joys of overgrown green places!) we retreated to find that it's amazing how much you can get done in a short amount of time. We had cleared a large patch, filled 4+ barrows and found more than 5 memorials that had been so overgrown, noone knew they were even there. After a quick selfie and water break, we went out separate ways to enjoy the rest of our Sundays in the knowledge of a job well done and some inspiration from one of the uncovered inscriptions...life's work well done, life's race well run.

On a cold but invigorating and bright Sunday morning, we met our task owner Alison, a local environmentalist from Kingston Biodiversity Network, on the banks of the Hogsmill River - an important nature corridor for Kingston residents. It is supposed to be managed by Highways but we can only assume its not their priority!

We had a dual task for the morning. The first was to clear the riverside path to make it a safer and more welcoming path for everyone to enjoy. In the space of an hour we bagged 2 sacks of rubbish and cleared brambles, weeds, and slippery mulch and moss from the path. With no green waste going to waste - we were able to pile it well away from the path to mulch down.

Like the fast flowing river, we flowed onto our next task at the neighbouring Kingston cemetery. Managed by the council, they can't keep up with the brambles taking over the ancient graves and grassland so important for nature, so loppers in hand we laid to rest huge patches of brambles.

Job done with the rest of everyone's weekends to enjoy - xmassy outings to get to or xmas decorating calling. We look forward to seeing Alison with wheel barrow in tow somewhere else soon and hope to welcome back Julia and Lucy from Hammersmith and Fulham... Thanks for a great morning Alison.