Kymm, Michelle and Gus met at Baron's Pond just across the street from Gunnesbury Park on Sunday morning. They were tasked with planting daffodil bulbs throughout a clearing in the wildlife reserve.

The clearing which is getting decent amount of sunlight in the mornings will hopefully become a pleasant sight for passers by on the nearby road by March/April next year (once the trees in between the reserve and the street have been trimmed a bit to allow sight of our work).

Stephen who helped organise the task joined us a little later giving a hand while keeping an eye for the ecologist planning to arrive a little after 12.

Using pitchforks, we first got going with decompacting the soil as best we could. We were blessed by the local wildlife giving us a very earth-worming welcomes in doing so. Local worms of a significant size I must say, which gave us some confidence of the quality of the soil around here! They didn't seem to mind much and so we kept going.

We followed this wholesome interaction, with a more hole-some one: Digging daffodil-size holes with a wooden dibber. We learnt from Kymm of the royal perks of volunteering with the Royal Parks. In doing a similar task, they used some fantsy pantsy bulb planter tool which makes the task a lot easier and trivial. We, Goodgymer, don't like easy. We embrace chaos and difficulty like no other so we got on digging with our non-sharp-ended wooden dibber without any complains (although our hands are likely callous tomorrow). Lots was at (wooden) stake!

Once holes were deep and wide enough and sprinkled (salt bae style) with bulb fertiliser, we planted bulbs in each making sure to vary the kinds in each bunch. We then covered our holes back with dirt. That last step is crucial in ensuring the bulbs are actually protected from the elements (and squirrels) but mainly it was for us to see where we had planted or not.

With the task completed but 2 Goodgymers not yet caffeinated for the day, the next course of action was obvious. Onto to Gunnersbury park for a treat!