Our first Ham Lands mission of the year with proper sunshine saw 4 bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Richmond GoodGymers gather with a small group from the Friends of Ham Lands for our regular session helping out.

The task today involved cutting back brambles from an area deep in the woods on the side of a walking path. Once everyone was present and correct (Salwa arriving from the undergrowth) we donned gloves and set to work with loppers and shears.

We made quick progress, moving some old tree branches (known as the Ancient Crocodile) further back from the path, gathering the brambles in a big yellow sack as we went. As always every step and arm movement amongst the brambles was a gamble, though it seemed your writer was the only one letting out a yelp when the gamble didn't pay off...

Unlike the cold and wet mornings on the Ham Lands we were not longing for the end of the session and hot coffee, but this didn't mean we weren't grateful for a trip to the Swiss Bakery when time was up.

A very warm welcome to Louise who was on her first Richmond mission (after a first foray doing a riverside cleanup in Kingston). We will be back on the Ham Lands on 13th May so look out for the listing.