The hardiest bunch came out for this week's group run as the temperature plummeted and the ground froze over.

We headed out to the Bradger's Hill nature reserve where we had a mixture of tasks. One plan was to plant some tree whips in a gap in the hedge line used as a cut-through. This plan involved collecting the whips from Wardown Park on the way. Unfortunately the plan was foiled as the ground was too solid to get a spade into, a combination of compacted stony soil and being frozen. The trees had to go back! We'll make another plan when its a bit warmer and when we can borrow some more heavy-duty tools from the wildlife trust.

Good thing we had a backup task at the same site: moving a pile of dumped tree cuttings from one of the entrances to a fire site nearby where the conservation volunteers will use it at their next work party. They love us when we leave them a dry wood pile to get the fire going early on a frosty morning work party!