Weeding ponds, paths and hedgerows was the name of the game for our Tuesday evening session, when eight GoodGymers headed to Edith Gardens, in Berrylands.

One of 12 designated nature reserves in the borough, this special site is used by people to access nature who might not otherwise be able to - such as disabled people and people suffering from mental health problems. So it’s important that it’s kept in good condition for their use.

Luke bravely volunteered to lean and ‘rake’ the pond to remove the algae on its surface, Tom and Sabir worked hard clearing brambles from the hedgerow GoodGymers planted a few years ago, Jana enjoyed slashing the nettles on either side of the wheelchair accessible path, while Dave, Julie, Rachel and Emma weeded the path to make it ready for flattening next week.

It was a slightly longer run from the Quaker Centre to this task - 3.5km - but great to get back to this site and hopefully we’ll return again this summer to lend a hand to the volunteers that manage this space so brilliantly day-to-day.

Edith Gardens is a hidden haven in the heart of Berrylands, that over the years it has been transformed from a derelict wasteland into the truly magnificent nature garden that it is now. With ponds for amphibians, trees and bushes for birds, bug hotels and log piles for bugs and even an injured hedgehog sanctuary, it welcomes all who need it.

Our job over the years has been to help maintain it and tonights task was more of the same. Maintain the path that meanders through the shrubbery, by cleaning it of moss and weeds. Cut back the brambles that have grown up around the young saplings trying to grow and clear the bench of the hawthorn that has overgrown its designated area. There is always too much to do in such little time - so we look forward to being invited back again to help keep up Edith's appearances.