Our Saturday challenge was to help maintain and expand a newly established community orchard at Risinghurst Allotments. Tasks included unearthing weed membrane and removing it from an area where trees are going to be planted next, filling in the worst of the lumps and bumps in the ground so that it was closer to level, pulling up the grass that had got established (techinque note - stick the fork in and twirl it like with spaghetti) , and most importantly rehoming 2 hibernating toads which we found while doing all those jobs. Toadally kermitted to amphibian rescue.

As toad by Goodgym

We also mulched fruit tree saplings with woodchip, tried to keep Cassie the pup entertained, unearthed a multitude of unusual objects (buried tennis ball, rubber pig, barbed wire), and enjoyed tea and flapjacks supplied by our hosts.

It was toadally worth venturing beyond the ring road for a morning of shovelling, digging and munching.

Next up in Risinghurst - Hop on over for frog rescue in the spring. We've been asked to help on Frog Patrol to stop randy frogs getting squashed on the ring road. Times and Dates tbc, so watch this space!