13 GoodGym runners joined forces with CREOS volunteers to ‘chip in’ on the Crouch End Open Space monthly working party.

What a day. The weather always seems to be good to us when we do a community mission at the Crouch End Open Space, yet today may just have been the brightest most sunniest CREOS task yet. Under the warming sun we eased into a few hours of good honest outdoor work, t-shirts and in some cases shorts out in force.

There was woodchip to be laid on paths. There’s always woodchip! It was very satisfying watching the woodchip piles get smaller as the woodchipped portions of the paths grew larger. Yep we’re getting pretty good at this here woodchipping business.

Elsewhere, loose branches and sticks were collected to continue building up the dead hedge GoodGym volunteers helped build at last month’s working party. This was to protect the ground around a very old oak tree that had been diagnosed as ‘stressed’ due to high footfall above its roots. I must say it did seem a touch less tense this month. I’d say that dead hedge is doing the trick.

GoodGymmers also got stuck in digging through soil and buried asphalt to make holes for the CREOS team to plant saplings - tough work this, well done to those that took it on. There was also clearing of cherry laurel which is a pest in these parts.

At 1pm we enjoyed the traditional picnic put on by the CREOS team for volunteers at the end of their working parties. What a lovely way to spend a few hours on a Sunday - thanks to all who came along and hope to see you next time at CREOS.