Preparations across the land are in full swing for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Hove is no exception.

Palmiera Square are having a Big Lunch event to celebrate this historic occasion, including live music, kids play areas and a whole lot more. And of course local residents are keen for the square to be looking its best.

So tonight after a balmy day with thundery rain threatening we did our best to sweep up as many leaves and elm samaras as the strong wind would allow.

Resident Stuart’s dog Scampi entertained by chasing the leaves as we swept them.

We ended the evening with a pairs fitness session, with one holding a position whilst the other worked e.g squat.hold/ squats, boat hold/sit ups etc. and just as we were finishing the skies opened the rain came down and I legged it round the corner back to my flat!

Hope you all didn’t get too wet on the way home!

After bigging up Angela for running the Worthing Half Marathon in 2 seconds shy of 2 hours, MMichelle guided us through her neighbourhood, the brand new Circus Street development and up a very steep hill to our destination Carlton Hill primary school.

Caretaker Jimmy showed us to the grassy bank which will eventually become one of a network of meadows across the city. Jimmy told us that there are already bats nesting in an out building at the school so the meadow will be a good habitat for them.

We set to work on removing the top layer of turf so the meadow seed can be sown. It was difficult work, and we utilised a variety of techniques to wage war on that turf including slicing, pulling and forking. We wondered if there might be a machine that could do the job ‘Yeah,it’s called Daniel’ I replied as Daniel was definitely one of our best soldiers in this turf war.

With many battles won if not the war, we headed to the lovely Tarner Park next door to the school for a quick fitness session and some of us (me!) had a little play on the cargo net and I do believe I did my first ever proper chin up! (Rosemary did about 10!)

See you next week when we’ll helping out at Manor Paddock Seniors Housing Scheme. Sign up here.

Now this is the task you were all waiting for! At least you were if you are Rosie who is literally as happy as a pig in sh** when dragging rubbish out of a dump site, and I have to say I tend to agree!

A second trip to the Moulsecoomb allotments and the rubbish just kept on flowing! Our mission is to help the allotment holders to clear an abandoned plot that has become a rubbish dump and help turn it into a little wildlife haven. And as we pulled up carpets (so much carpet!) radiators, bottles, cans, hose pipes, clothes airers and so much more we did come across a couple of slow worms, so I guess we are off to a good start.

It was great to see some of you back after a few weeks or months off for various reasons. Perhaps Philippa had the best excuse as she just ran a marathon! Huge congratulations to Pippa for an amazing achievement.

We concluded the evening with a push/pull partnered work out in Saunders Park, utilising the swings for pull ups and also a bit of actual swinging (no not that kind!) at the end.

See you next week for some meadow making at Carlton Hill primary school Sign up here.

Having completed a fitness session in the gorgeous evening sunshine, seven of us ran up the hill towards Ronald MacDonald House.

We met Jazz who explained what they all do. An amazing place that allows parents with very sick children to access a room to stay so they can be nearby. The parents can come from as far away as Kent and can stay as long as they want....indeed they currently have a couple who have been staying intermittently since last September. It's an invaluable resource and a must make a massive difference for the parents involved.

Jazz explained that while the facility was closed due to Covid the outside area had, in the words of Grandmaster Flash, become "like a jungle".

Jazz and her partner had recently cleared one area alongside a wall but the beds on the opposite side were still crazily overgrown. We set about clearing the dreaded bindweed which was achieved but there is still work to do. While clearing weeds cocktails with a Goodgym theme, our next social and rats were discussed!

All in all a productive evening at a very inspiring location.

Meanwhile over in Hanover and Elm Grove Ward the rest of the team helped local residents paint over several patches of unsightly graffiti and weed and pick up litter in the beds in front of the Percy Wagner almshouses. Although the graffiti has reappeared in some areas we’d painted over on our last visit, I do believe we are winning the war and it was great to see the bottom of Southover Street clear of graffiti on the run back. Items picked up in the litter included the usual haul of drinks cans but also a child’s pair of wellies, an umbrella, a ladle and lots of McDonald’s takeaway litter! So both tasks were supported by the burger chain in one way or another!