We joined the Friends of Danesmead Woods session to help them dig the nettle roots out of an area ready for planting cornflowers. First we had to remove the mossy turf layer on top which Claire discovered rolled up surprisingly easily. The nettle rots were also satisfying to pull out. We discovered lots of unexpected slabs of rock just under the surface too as well as some rubbish. Leanne started the beginning of a rock border but it wasn't quite what they had in mind so instead she helped them shift the wheelbarrow of rocks. At the end we enjoyed some carrot cake and white chocolate blondies and hot drinks.

The groud was too frozen to undertake the digging part of the task so instead we got going on cutting and clearing long bramble and other branches from an area and building a dead hedge along one side. Luckily David had dead hedge building experience so he built whilst the rest of us cut and cleared. At the end everyone appreciated the cake and hot drinks provided by the Friends of Danesmead Woods and we arranged to come back to do the digging in February.

Six of us returned to Danesmead Wood for some woodchip barrowing in the autumn sun.

With woodchip mounds at either end of the path we split into two teams. Team one was made up of the people who arrived on time and team two those of us who either couldn't find the meeting or misjudged the Wednesday night traffic. Jude from the friends of the wood was marshalling our work to ensure the woodchip lasted long enough for the whole path.

We made light work of the task, finishing just over the planned hour. New member Douglas was barrowing like a pro by the end of the task.

Sadly Jude had not had chance to make the usual traybake but she did provide us with some excellent rocky road from the local M&S so no one went away disappointed.

Two wheelbarrows, two shovels, a rake, a fork and a huge pile of wood chip - a perfect Sunday morning task.

With the promise of tray bake at the end, we made quick work barrowing the wood chip with Cara and Laura shovelling, Paul raking and me and Leanne running up and down with the wheelbarrows. Good work done and bellies full of chocolate we headed to the pub for a well earned lunch.

A surprisingly large turnout for a frosty Sunday morning saw eight of York's finest descend on Danesmead Wood to clear nettles and eat cake.

With directions that bore very little resemblance to the actual location of the task, finding where we were working proved to be a bit of a challenge. Luckily, the happy sound of Goodgymmers in their natural habitat made it easier for those of us that were confused to find where we were meant to be.

In the clear part of the wood where we were working, nettles had dug in for the long haul and it was our job to dig deep and dig hard to get them out by to root so the area would be clear for the spring. It was hard work but the combination of a few days rain to soften the ground and autumn sun to warm us up meant this was not an unpleasant task.

The nettles hard surrounded one poor sapling and so we paid particular attention to clearing the space around it so the tree could establish itself and defeat the nettle menace.

After an hour of hard work, the nettles were beaten and Jude dished out the tea and cakes. Which were awesome.

we arrived at the wood faced with two piles of woodchip to spread with a mini group clearing mud off the recently flooded path.

Team Vicky, Neil and Debs tackled the smaller pile and make quick work before joining team bigger pile. Armed with lots of tools and wheelbarrows we got into a good rhythm and were a very efficient gang, accelerated by Leanne running all her barrow trips!

Whilst all this was happening Cara and Charlotte did a sterling jog of clearing the path.

All our efforts were rewarded with some of Jude's lovely cake!

An enjoyable morning had by all!