Robin Hood - the legend of Eastern Cottonwoods

1 Goodgymer helped an isolated person in Kingston upon Thames
Gosia Rybacka
1 / 7
Kingston upon Thames

Monday 21st July

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Report written by Gosia Rybacka

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I traveled to Kingston upon Thames this evening to help Mr G with a bit of deweeding in his backgarden. I need to say I had second thoughts ๐Ÿ’ญ on the way there when there was literally a downpour ๐ŸŒงโ˜”๏ธ๐Ÿ’ฆ every 10 mins ๐Ÿ˜‘.

I arrived a bit earlier and knocked on Mr G's door around 18:40. He welcomed me and right away led to the backgarden ๐ŸŒฑ.

Need to say - his garden is indeed overgrown (and I added few photos to show that - in case there is a follow up session). As he mentioned right away the most important thing was for him to clear the patio, where currently the chairs ๐Ÿช‘๐Ÿช‘ and umbrella โ›ฑ๏ธ stood. He also mentioned that around a couple of week ago.

I got my ๐Ÿงค gloves from the backpack and was ready to go ๐Ÿš€. I quickly learned that the entire area was covered with a tick layer of a cotton-like fabric which was wet, dirty and... propely stuck to the ground. I didn't have a scraper and the available brooms ๐Ÿงน and rake were to weak yo scrap that off. I eventually used just my hands. This was an activity Inhave been doing most of the time.

I couldn't resist and needed to check what tree ๐ŸŒณ caused this damage - based on a photo it's confirmed as Eastern Cottonwoods. The one from Mr G's garden was huge, very old and majestically ๐Ÿ‘‘ grown right in the middle of the garden.

I have also targeted some of the mulberry plants that were just became a bit too invasive for the patio area ๐Ÿดโ€โ˜ ๏ธ. I grabbed shears from Mr G's toolbox ๐Ÿงฐ and cut them down to carve out some extra space.

On a very positive note, there was a little Robin ๐Ÿฆ who kept visiting me as I progressed through the work. I almost felt it's some sort of a fairytale ๐Ÿงšโ€โ™‚๏ธ. Either it was monitoring my efforts or maybe was looking for fresh worms ๐Ÿชฑ to grab for the dinner as they got revealed under the "cotton" sheet.

I worked around 1:30h ๐Ÿ•š and ended up pretty soaked, but the result was worth it! Mr G was very pleased and insisted I will take money. I declined and wished him a lovely evening (he might as well spent it in his patio now!)



Discuss this report
Suzanne Vost
Suzanne Vost (She/Her)

Wed 23rd Jul at 12:57pm

Fantastic job! Well done

Join us on our next session

Kingston upon Thames

Stock take and sort out at the student foodbank at Kingsgate Church
๐Ÿ—“Tomorrow 6:30pm

Tackle food poverty within our local student population

+4
LukeAnnaAmy WinterFarzeen HuqClaire Dunne
9 GoodGymers are going