After our successful trip to Ranelagh Primary School a few weeks ago, when we cleared a skipload of wood and rubble from a green area, they asked us back to help with more outdoor improvements. Five of us met up after parkrun and ran or cycled to the school, where we met a small group of staff, parents and children who were already busy dismantling an old rotting wooden structure from the edge of the playground. They’re hoping to get funding to build something new, but in the meantime the cleared area will provide a bit of extra playing space.

We quickly set to work carrying the waste wood out and loading it onto a trailer, before getting stuck in to dismantling and digging out some old raised beds, and wheelbarrowing the earth up to the top of the playground, where it was used to fill an old sandpit that they’re repurposing for the kids to grow vegetables. Various random items were unearthed in the process, including plastic eggs, a bit of lego, a couple of millipedes and some impressively large spiders. Some of the most rotten wood was earmarked for an insect habitat, so hopefully that’ll make up for disturbing their homes today!

Despite there not being that many of us, we got plenty of work done in the hour we were there, and fortunately finished before Storm Dennis started to rear its head.