After our December endeavours shifting many bulk bags of sand for Botley Primary School, yesterday we were back to shovel and rake shingle.

The school are rejuvenating their inner courtyard into a more usuable space, both for children and teachers, but as it's surrounded by corridors and classrooms it was a logistical puzzle to work out how to get the gravel/shingle from the delivery point into the courtyard. With a solution found (a pallet truck), we were called in to lend extra hands to the task.

In less than an hour and a half our team of 7 GoodGymers and 4 school volunteers managed to get 9 bulk bags of shingle shifted into the courtyard, shovelled and barrowed around the space, and beautifully raked to an even finish.

Many hands make light work of a big task!

After a winter full of cancelled tasks thanks to poor weather, it was a joy to be out in the sunshine at last!

We have a long history with Marston Forest Garden, having helped out and witnessed it's transformation since it's early days. This time we were moving and replanting a Sea Buckthorn tree (very spikey), collecting barrow loads of compost from the communal compost pile, and weeding away grass from around the Mulberry tree and surrounding herbs.

Two hours whizzed by and our Vitamin D levels got a boost.

We ate, drank and were merry.

Mark flitted between 2 parties and we all tried to kidnap pub dog Oscar.

A pretty glorious evening.