Monday 3rd June
Report written by Sevan
There was a strong showing of GoodGymers tonight to help HANGOT at one of the closest orchards to their base. The weapon of choice for the GoodGymers today would be a pair of shears, so the team grabbed their tools, then the gardener army strode out towards St Margaret's Orchard.
Sevan's empty wheelbarrow acted as a battle drum as it rode over the bumpy ground. It was meant to collect a rogue dining chair and move it to the nearest bin. Christos decided he could handle the chair by himself, so the drum kept beating all the way to their destination.
When they arrived, the army was split into those that didn't pose a health and safety risk and those who did. The GoodGymers were in the latter category, not because they were particularly clumsy. No, it was because there would be 2 reapers with scythes on the loose in the orchard, chopping down the long grass. The GoodGymers were quite attached to their ankles, so instead they were asked to work outside the orchard wall.
The GoodGymers got stuck into their task for the evening, to trim the top and sides of the boundary hedge. The important thing that everyone had to remember was not to touch the rose bushes 🌹. Mirjam, the task owner, was impressed with how quickly the hedge was cut down to size.
There was still time to pull some weeds before the end of the session and wheel the cuttings to a large and further growing compost pile. As the task wrapped up, the reapers caught up with the team. Thankfully, they appeared satisfied with the grass that they'd sliced through and weren't hungry for any GoodGym limbs.
We'll be back to help HANGOT again soon, so look out for the task listing.
Hanwell and Norwood Green Orchard Trail is a local community project to plant and care for a trail of publicly accessible community orchards in the Grand Union Canal corridor in Hanwell and surroundings. Publicly accessible community orchards benefit humans, flora and fauna alike, and fruit is free to pick and enjoy. We planted over 150 fruit trees, hazels and rowans since January 2015 in over 12 locations between the Brentford and Southall borders, building nature and wildlife habitat improvements as well as a strong community of local volunteers with a shared sense of responsibility. We also planted hundreds of fruiting hedge plants. We work in close cooperation with Ealing Council park rangers, the Canal & River Trust, local schools and other community groups.
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Help make surplus food available to anyone and everyone from the local area