Frannie and the team at Octopus Communities Network returned to Highbury Quadrant Estate this Saturday, and our team of 5 Goodgym folks were on hand to help out! We have been making some smashing progress so far with this green project, but there is still plenty to do.

We gathered up our tools (wheelbarrow, spades, forks, litter picker and rakes) from the community shed, and headed over to the potential orchard plot. Digging up stubborn roots from the soft ground (caused by the recent rain fall) was the name of the game today. We really got stuck in (resulting with Trainer Simon and Sarah toppling over from pulling out some particularly tough tangles of roots!), and were able to remove plenty of these long tendrils from the soil.

The next task was to rake up the leaves and green waste from the area, and to separate the rubbish from the piles of branches and roots. Lots of plastic bags and pieces of household waste has been strewn across the garden over the years (probably blown in from the estate), which is all now proving quite tricky to remove.

Upon locking up the gates to the orchard, we brought all the tools back home and gave them a scrub and sanitise, ready for the next crew of volunteers.

Well done everyone. We will be back again on Halloween day (31st October) at midday (same time, same place!)