It's been a couple of months since GoodGym were last at Stoke Newington Common. With the hot dry days of summer behind us, it is not longer necessary to water the young trees. However, this weekend marked the start of mulching season at the Common and three goodgymers were on hand to help the regular Stoke Newington Common Users Group volunteers. It was great to have Kene joining us for his first ever GoodGym session. And lovely to have Rob back in the borough after some time away south of the river.

The task was to ready the trees for winter, by distributing protective and nutritious mulch around the base of the trees. This retains soil moisture, insulates root, suppresses weeds and improves the nutritional value of the soil, as the mulch decomposes.

Having collected tools from nearby Abney Park Cemetery, the group made their way to the mulch pile to load up the wheelbarrows and distribute the mulch around the trees, making sure to clear the ground first of debris and weeds. After a good hour or so, all the trees were protected and the group returned tools, just before the rain started. A good effort all round.

Next time (Saturday 1st November) - we'll be mulching the younger trees and shrubs.

Another Wednesday and the team were back at Stoke Newington Common to give the trees their weekly drink.

To Tree or not to Tree....that was the question this week as the tree team eagerly watched weather forecast and the skies alike for much anticipated rain.

But what rain came, was classified as 'piddly' and so the troops gathered once again to do the rounds with the water cart.

This week there were not one but TWO innovations introduced to the routine:

1. The much awaited very long hose, allowing one volunteer to skip the carton filling task and water the trees nearest to the water source direct from the hose.

2. Thanks to the fresh think of a new volunteer, the use of the drinking fountain as another source of water from which to fill at least 3 cartons while the others in the cart were being filled by the other hose (attached to the splitter introduced a few weeks ago).

With these new arrangements in action, cartons were filled more quickly and needed to be refilled less often before the task was complete and the team could go home, and not a raindrop in sight.

We were back beating the now very familiar path round Stoke Newington Common, looking after the little trees. No innovations this week. Just efficient watering.

It was good to have a couple of familiar GoodGym faces join us again this week, with Bianca and Nuredin helping out again.

This week, with Chief Tree Supervisor away on holiday, there was a major deviation from the standard watering strategy - tackle the task in reverse order. Nuredin enjoyed the challenge of rolling our trolley of water containers UP the STEEPEST HILL straight to the most thirsty trees. And from there we worked our way round the common in reverse order to our standard route, with a few trips back and forth to the tap to refill.

The world was still spinning on its axis the usual way once the task was complete and the trees were well cared for for another week.

Another week, and another tree watering innovation - the two way hose splitter, allowing two hoses to be attached to the tap at the same time and fill up the water canisters double quick!

Today's priority was watering the slightly older young trees (planted 4 years ago). Although more established, these are showing signs of dehydradtion and struggle against the warm weather.

Next, the team focussed on the very young saplings planted last winter in the more sheltered areas. Although these young trees are more sheltered from the sun, they are also more sheltered from the rain and suffering more than some trees in other parts of the common.

It was lovely to have Nuredin join the team for his first ever GoodGym task.

We'll be back next week for another round of drinks for the trees.