On a nice Spring day, we weeded the planters. Too many unwanted green bits were starting to take nutrients needed by the food being grown at Elm Haven.

Also, some pesky yellow seeds were dropping into the planters from trees. We don't wan't those taking route, so we picked them all out.

Karen. a London resident for the last two decades, joined us for her first ever GoodGym task. A warm welcome to the community, Karen.

On Saturday, we're meeting at Ingestre Community Centre, NW5 1UX, to help make a safe secure woodland and a better habitat for wildlife: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/friendly-group-session-going-down-to-the-community-woods-today-in-tufnell-park

Next Wednesday evening, we'll be helping a patch of urban green: Lismore Circus Community Woods. To meet us at the task, head for NW5 4AS at 18:55 https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/friendly-group-session-2-mile-run-optional-green-fingered-volunteering-at-lismore-circus-community-woods

And we're back at Elm Village every Wednesday lunchtime: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/help-a-green-environmental-project-c718bd51-7ddb-41be-a2fd-cb0faed54125

This week, we turned over the soil in two planters, to improve drainage and aeration. The process of turning over the soil helps to loosen compacted soil, allowing air and water to penetrate more effectively. We removed a few weeds while we were at it

This week we had to pick up sticks and branches which had fallen off trees in the council park next door. These were covering the grass and preventing growth. Some we threw back to the park in which their trees were situated, others were put in a bucket and added to our compost.

We didn''t expect leaves to be around in the middle of February. But those at Elm Vale Community Garden were embedded in mud, there were a lot of them,and it seemed unlikely we could clear the lot in a hour. However, armed with a rake, a spade and a broom, we cleared the whole area - and hopeefully that's it until autumn!

With task owner Phil suffering from back problems, it was the first time in a few weeks that GoodGym was able to help the Elm Village community garden.

This week, we were sifting through the strawberry planter, to remove dead leaves and foliage which would suffocate the succulent strawberries expected in the summer. The resulting debris was taken to a composter, so rather than going to waste, will be returned to the ground to assist future growing projects.

Compacted soil is a barrier preventing air, water and nutrients from reaching plant roots. The soil in Elm Vale community garden has got very compacted after the recent cold weather and relative lack of rain, so what was needed was aeration!

So we got to work aerating the soil with trowels. We were joined by Murray, all the way from Fulham for his first ever good deed. Welcome Murray, hope to see you again soon.

Congratulations to task owner Phil who's just got married. It was a long courtship - 47 years!! - but he's finally been persuaded to tie the knot.