There was a definite chill in the air this time as the GoodGym Richmond team gathered with the Friends of Ham Lands for our monthly mission.

A small but hardy group of five met up with Sharon and her gang and awaited instructions. The instructions, to nobody’s great surprise, were to tackle a patch of bramble.

We armed ourselves with loppers, shears and secateurs and got to work, making good progress against our spiky foes.

Excitement arose when Ken asked for Chris’s help some way from the main group. At Ken’s request, Chris climbed up a tree and sawed off a branch, which was overhanging a small sapling and blocking its light.

As usual Sharon had come with provisions and we called time for cups of tea and coffee with biscuits, very welcome on the cold morning. Then we said our goodbyes and headed off for Saturday plans.

One GoodGymer (me!) went to the Habitats and Heritage River Thames Drawoff clean-up.

This is a long running project that happens every November when the Port of London opens up Richmond Half Lock for maintenance in November. Richmond Lock normally closes the sluice gates 2 hours after high tide to keep water back and make the River Thames navigatable between Richmond and Teddington Locks at low tide. In November they carry maintenance out in the sluice gates so they are left open. So at low tide the river empties exposing huge sections of the River Thames foreshore that is normally several metres under water even at low tide. So on went the wellies and into the mud to look for treasure. In no time I had filled a bin bag full of old nails, screws, plastic and broken glass. I also saw the old Tudor wooden posts that are only visible during drawoff that were once the dock to Richmond Palace for the likes of King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. Just some sticks in the mud. Come out next year as this is a fun and interesting project.

Starting at Tap Tavern, Jp celebrated his 600th task, an additional 100 tasks from his milestone 500 in just 11 months!

Beyond the bright lights of Richmond, an intrepid group of GoodGymmers headed off into the dark lands of Petersham to the hidden lair of Petersham and Ham Sea Scouts.

One pair set about emptying a broken trug of soil, one pair helped to level ground to put slabs down for the wheelie bins, and the remaining people got stuck in to a task to filter the ash from the huge bonfire and remove any metal nails that were in the palettes that were burned! A good team task that had everyone doing their bit to get the job done and keep fit while we did it!

The evening ended as the temperature dropped quickly and the group ran back towards the high street and home!

The Petersham and Ham Sea Scouts hosted their annual Bonfire and Fireworks on Saturday night. 2 Goodgymers helped out on Sunday morning to clear up a few areas and as the last remnants of the Bonfire was still simmering, with a spade we lifted the ground around the fireplace. Grass seeds will be strewn around this area to allow the grass to regrow again. More work will continue on Monday nights group task.

A quick task at our sponsored riverside plot at The Three Pigeons to take down the pumpkins that had been placed in the border, add them to our compost heap at Buccleuch Gardens and save the LED candles for another time! Job done!

In preparation for Remembrance Day, we met at the listed war memorial monument at St Mary Magdelene Church in Richmond town centre. Jobs included weeding around the flower bed, clearing any rubbish that had blown in, scraping up grass and moss between the paving slabs and making sure the area is appropriately ready to pay respects to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.