GoodGym’s specially select handpicked Mencap duo helped out in the garden at the Exchange in Erith.

First we watered the trees and shrubs and learnt how to recognise different plants such as Myrtle. Then we swopped watering cans for hoes and rakes and weeded the gravel walkways. If it was green – it went in the bin! Next we sieved a huge bag of compost in preparation for our final task. Moving indoors to the heat of the tram shaped greenhouse, we sieved the compost into three trays, taking care to smooth over the beds using scrapers so they were nice and flat. Then we used a sprinkler to moisten the trays before spreading 3 types of herb seeds, like chicory, into the soil. Adding a layering of compost to dust over the seeds, we moistened the trays again. Louis says the seeds will appear in a few days and will be used as herbs in the kitchen.