Skies were a little overcast as we gathered together at Vivo, but the light sprinkling of rain that followed proved short lived and was a refreshing change from the Shakespearean tempest that accompanied our last visit to the Patchwork project.

Welome Back, El

Following the usual round of introductions (great to see El back with us again!), newly trained run leader ('Godfather') Dave led us through some excellent warm-ups in Queen Square, ending with a skip across the grass (complete with Morecambe and Wise hand gestures) that surely made us the envy of the all the other occupants of the space.

Fig Wasp

After a fairly short run, the group were met by our good friends from the Patchwork project. This is a group that adopts unloved patches of land in Bedminster and Southville and clears them of rubbish and weeds before planting new trees, shrubs and flowers. This evening they had two such patches for us to work on - one an old favourite from previous runs and another new one a little further down the hill.

The group split into two and were soon hard at work. Equipped with trowels and gloves the team set to work weeding both sites and were soon generating more than the green bin could handle - even with Chris expertly compacting it all. A pair of shears served as a handy grass trimmer and soon the space was looking, well if not quite tamed, then at least on the road to domestication.

While we were working on the weeds we noticed a rather impressive fig tree against the wall. Emily informed us that each of the figs requires a fig wasp to pollinate it. Unfortunately the wasp’s wings and antennas are torn off as she moves through and consequently cannot leave and is digested by the fig. Poor fig wasp!

Hee-bee GGs The group on Clifton Street did a great job clearing weeds and managed to preserve the hebe

Bristol Half - coming soon!

The group photo taken, we all headed back to Queen Square, pausing only to lunge, step-up and tricep dip at some handy steps and walls along the way.

A final quick dash around the square revealed both that interest in the forthcoming Bristol half marathon is starting to build and also that running marathon-length cross country recce sessions at the weekend leaves you slightly less keen to sprint the last section (Matt!).

Mr Mavis

In other news, Chris's guinea pig Mr Mavis has a new love interest. Sadly the pair have been separated for now but then as A Midsummer Night's Dream shows us, the course of true love never did run smooth.

Thanks to Chris for leading the run, Dave for the warm up and Paul for the run report!