Another Saturday, and another chance to help the Friends of Princes Park (FOPP!) with some winter tasks. We started out by lopping some previously marked saplings to thin out the plantation and ensure that the remaining trees had room to grow strongly. With some pretty fearsome-looking bandsaws as well as loppers, we set to work with the regular members of FOPP and had soon amassed an impressive pile of felled saplings. This rather puzzled a little girl who was walking in the park with her mum, and who asked us why we were allowed to cut down trees in the park when it was such a bad thing to happen in the Amazon rainforest. Robert from FOPP gave her a quick talk about the basics of responsible woodland management and she was very happy with the explanation. A future GoodGym recruit in ten years or so, perhaps!

We also had time to clear some self-seeded Turkey Oak saplings which were similarly overcrowded, and to do a quick litter pick of the area that we'd cleared. A big well done to all, especially those who already volunteered at parkrun and/or who are going on the Group Run later on today. What a #SuperSaturday!