It was a scorcher of a morning as Vix, Chris and JP joined Sharon and the merry band of Friends of Ham Lands for some light work on an area of brambles choking the progress of a rose bush.

We grabbed loppers and set to work on the brambles, dragging the chopped tendrils out to be chopped up and bagged. They put up quite a fight, managing to scratch us with their thorns (it being too warm for long sleeves and two of us wearing shorts), leading to a chorus of yelps to accompany our work.

Despite our legs and forearms showing numerous signs of the battle it was a very satisfying task and when Sharon called time for teas and coffees we were proud of what we had achieved. So much so that we decided to reward ourselves with a coffee at the Swiss bakery and a natter before heading off for the rest of our sunny Saturday.

Next time on the Ham Lands will be Saturday 10th May - sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/goodgym-richmond-helping-the-happy-ham-landers

It’s been a very spring like Saturday morning, no coats needed, but we needed the tough gloves to tackle the brambles. We were tasked to tackle an area in the Ham Lands which was overgrown with brambles and Goodgym along with the Friends of Ham Lands did a great job clearing the area. After a little tea break, we cleared our area and then went off for a coffee in the sunshine.

Saturday morning was grey and drizzly, but that didn’t stop 5 hardy Goodgymers joining the Friends of Ham Lands to help clear a patch of brambles.

We were joined for his first mission by Andrew, who got stuck in with the rest of us with rakes and loppers as we set to work with gusto.

Sharon was on hand as always, directing the work and encouraging us. We made light work of it, chopping and raking and filling the big sacks which were then dragged into the undergrowth to be dumped.

We finished the session with a hot teas and coffees, very welcome after the cold and wet work, then headed off for our weekends.

Next session on the Ham Lands is 8th March, sign up here! https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/helping-the-happy-ham-landers-61cb319d-783d-4501-97b1-f9d294c78dfd

For the last time in 2024 we gathered together at the Ham Lands to support the FOHL in their work on improving the natural habitat for the benefit of animals and walkers alike.

A warm welcome to Natasha, joining from GG Kingston on her second task, and to Steph who made his way over from Ealing.

It was a cool but not freezing cold morning. Sadly Team Leader Sharon had broken her wrist so it was up to the rest of the team to get us to the right spot and brief the group.

We were back in the same area as November’s mission, working on the bramble in two clumps around the base of a tree. Each of us grabbed a pair of loppers or shears and set to work.

We made excellent progress, cutting a swathe through both bramble patches. This time we stopped a little bit early to allow the group time to get ready for the GoodGym Richmond Christmas lunch starting at 12pm.

2024 has been a great year of work on the Ham Lands, thank you to everyone who has come along to one of the 12 missions and done their bit. See you in January, you can sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/helping-the-happy-ham-landers-453c8786-8114-4ccf-a994-8f942db9b6eb

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.

To celebrate World Habitats Day, Monika and JP from GG Richmond joined the Friends of Ham Lands for their regular monthly meet up to help preserve the beautiful habitats of the Ham lands which we are so lucky to have close to our homes.

Leader Sharon was there as always to brief the troops and we were assigned to litter picking alongside her while others went to different areas looking for litter or cutting back brambles.

In general, the people who enjoy the Ham Lands aren’t big time litter bugs - they don’t drop much rubbish on the open pathways, and many are conscientious enough to pick up what other people drop. But there is always litter to be found off the beaten path, so we went into the woods to seek out discarded trash.

Before too long we made substantial finds, in areas which might have been used for makeshift shelters or camps. Here we found large plastic sheets - the decomposing remains of bin liners - along with tobacco packaging, bottles, paper rubbish and even the rusting head of a discarded space (which itself proved useful in digging out rubbish which had started to be covered up and absorbed by the soil).

In the end we filled 3 bags and returned for tea and biscuits, to find more bags filled by the other volunteers. Seeing the amount we had collected together was very rewarding.

Next month’s mission is scheduled for Saturday 9th November - you can sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/helping-the-happy-ham-landers-863d2ee9-aa6d-4146-a9f0-c8c259d6ed76