Thursday 6th June
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Report written by Paul Salman
GoodGym Barnet: Guerrilla Planting Adventure!
Ah, what a day it was for the GoodGym Barnet crew! With no time to spare, we sprang into action for a guerrilla planting mission, determined to get those pollinating plants in place before the day was out.
The mission began in the bustling heart of Finchley, where we picked up our precious pollinating plants, carefully nurtured by 20 Finchley residents on their windowsills, allotments, and any other available spot. Hats off to Shiri (and the team at Finchley Pollinator Project and the Buzz Stops 2024 initiative) our coordination maestro, who did a stellar job bringing everyone's efforts together. "Fab and thank you so much for caring for these baby plants," she said, brimming with pride and gratitude.
With our leafy cargo safely loaded, we made the short drive to our clandestine planting site: Manor Cottages Approach, just off Long Lane, conveniently near the "spanners with Manners" car garage. The irony of planting flowers near mechanics who fix cars with such politeness wasn't lost on us!
Leading the charge with me was the indomitable Caroline, our one-handed hero battling tennis elbow but still giving it her all. Caroline's keen eye had helped us pinpoint the perfect planting spots, proving once again that superheroes don't always wear capes.
We set to work immediately, planting four trays of young plants next to the railings to shield them from any accidental trampling. With forks in hand, we loosened the ground and carefully dug holes for our green protégés. An hour of digging, planting, and chatting with curious locals flew by in no time.
Laura from "Spanners with Manners" was an unexpected ally, offering water to anyone keen on nurturing our newly planted flowers. Her generosity was a lovely reminder of the community spirit that fuels these missions.
As our planting task came to an end, we returned the empty trays and pots to Shiri, feeling accomplished. To celebrate our guerrilla gardening triumph, Gus and I headed to Stephen's House and Gardens for some much-needed refreshments.
If you're reading this and feeling inspired, why not join us on a community mission to water these plants over the next few months? Every drop counts, and with your help, our little pollinators will thrive.
Until next time, happy planting!
Join the mission, make a difference, and let's keep those plants thriving!
Thu 6th Jun at 5:52pm
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Barnet
It will help make the reservoir cleaner and safer for visitors and the many plants, birds and animals that live there.