This morning we joined the Southampton Parks and Green spaces volunteers to cut back the laurel in Shirley Pond Park. We found out laurel is an invasive species that takes over and prevents anything else from growing. There was everything from shoots to fully grown trees to tackle. Many hands made light work quite literally as the daylight could now be seen without the laurel canopy! While I was busy helping with the cutting back (and getting stuck in a ditch!), Lauren and April did a fabulous job litter picking in the wooded area and the park. April even found half a car. Fortunately it was a plastic one so it fit in the rubbish sack! It wasn’t long until it was time for a tea and biscuit break which was much appreciated. Sara, the task organiser, has promised us some tasks for the future so we’re eagerly awaiting the return of Himalayan Balsam season now, but we’ve got to wait until May!