Sevan and Kash ran through the streets adorned by cherry blossoms to meet Steph who walked by the Grand Union Canal to Hanwell. Steph arrived early and had already filled a tank with water from the canal and started watering the thirsty fruit trees by Bernd's Shed, including Bruno's Tree that had been planted at the previous session with HANGOT.

Today's task was digging out hemlock at the Blackberry Corner meadow on the other side of the canal. The task owner Mirjam explained that we can distinguish hemlock from similarly looking plants by the purple blotches on its stem. She also warned us that it is a highly toxic plant.

It's poisonous when eaten, so just don't munch on it and you will be fine. - Mirjam
Socrates died because he drank hemlock. - Frank

Frank didn't mean a crazy Greek volunteer at the orchards but the famous philosopher, who was sentenced to death, after being found guilty of corrupting young Athenians. Socrates chose death by hemlock poisoning. We chose to avenge Socrates and clear the meadow of the invasive, toxic plants while they were still not fully grown.

We did splendidly with the digging. At the end of the session, Steph was summoned to remove a few dead fruit trees and the stakes supporting them. Sadly, the Blackberry Corner trees are far away from the canal and watering them is a challenge. Apart from the four trees that have not made it to adulthood, the rest were doing very well and blooming, making the meadow look magnificent!

We will be back at the HANGOT orchards on 10th May - if you want to get down and dirty pre-Hootie, join us! Sign up here.