GoodGym and Brompton Bicycles continued their partnership with a bright and chilly task helping out the Ealing Wildlife Group and Horsenden Farm.

Given that there was a Tube Strike, Teacher strikes, NHS strikes and just about every other type of strike imaginable the group was a little smaller than expected but well done to the 5 Brompton employees who were ready and willing to get involved down at the farm!

We set off just after 9:30am for the short journey from the office over to Horsenden Farm about a mile away, we had two people who were recovering from injury and not able to ride while the remaining 3 plus GG Area Activator Yianny riding the always impressive Brompton Bikes over. Ishan having already put in 16kms to get in to work showed no sign of tiring and set the early pace but both Bekah and Tonderai were up to the challenge staying in touch all the way.

As the riders would arrive quicker than the walkers we decided to hit the trails in Paradise Fields / Horsenden Park and lo and behold we were met by a huge celebrity (in any house with kids) the Gruffalo! A quick stop for pics with the star of the children's books and then we were back off for a loop.

We arrived at the farm to be taken through the tasks by the staff which would involve digging out the pond, replanting baby trees, fixing a fallen fence and shifting some scrub onto a 'dead-hedge'. As we parked up the bikes the walkers arrived and we were ready for our first challenge - finding both a left and right hand glove....

Archie the shaggy haired Yorkie led the way and the group split into two and we were off, digging, flinging, uprooting, replanting, fence-post bashing and mulch slinging - it was genuinely as fun as it sounds , and we got through a decent amount of chores before it was time to hand back the wellies and gloves and head back to base.

Notable highlights included Tonderai ruining his trainers but using the skills he learned helping mum in the garden back home, Ivan battling through the stones and rocks to clear the pond, Ishan realising he was out of his depth in a challenge vs the ladies planting trees (stick to the heavy mallet Ishan??) and Carla and Bekah winning said challenge hands down.

A huge thank you to Emma and the staff at Horsenden Farm for hosting us and to the volunteers from Brompton for helping us to make a difference. We look forward to seeing you again next month!!