This evening we helped Raggy Rd allotments.

Sandy and I met at our central meet up point of Salt Hill park whilst Agni and Peter met us directly at the task.

Anita our task owner was on hand to give us the task brief. She needed a basil tree cut back as it was creating too much shade for the plot underneath it; a rosemary bush needed digging out and two planters needed filling with new top soil.

Sandy and I got to work on the basil tree. We were quite surprised at how easy it was the cut back.

Peter got to work on the planters and filling them up whilst Agni helped in all three areas.

This is a great task which we all enjoy doing.

Each time we visit we see such amazing progress to the plots.

Tonight’s task was to help Raggy Rd allotments with a gardening based task.

We met at Salt hill park with 6 people signed up. Two met us directly at the task location and four of us ran down the 1km route to Ragstone Rd

On arrival Mona was ready in waiting to give us the low down of the task.

There were planters that needed soiling and a path that needed leveling.

Forkin’ Hell

As we gathered around the compost heap that needed clearing out and the good soil moved to the planters, Keith spotted something moving as he ploughed his fork into the heap! At first we thought it was a snake! But then as another one appeared we realized they were slow worms.

That was enough for Sandy and I to quickly take on the leveling task whilst Keith, Jen and Zoe wheely enjoyed the compost moving planter filling task.

Hard Kaur’s

Abdul soon joined us and was helping the hard Kaur’s Sandy and me with removing layers of carpet and mesh and a few weeds from the path. Our task was to clear the path as best we could so that the plot user who has mobility issues could safely tend to their plot. We actually managed to do it much to our own surprise!

Within 45 minutes we had done as much as we possibly could, so we finished off with a group photos and yummy apple pies. Keith hit the jackpot with fresh beetroot! Just cant beet this task location

Well done to everyone for their efforts.

Tonight's task was to help Raggy Road Allotments with their allotment plots and help get them ready for their service users.

It was lovely to meet Sharon, The Chair of the allotment association as well as Anita our task owner. With 4 of us on duty tonight we wanted to crack on to get the tasks completed so after the introductions we got to work - it was a grape day for a bit of digging!

The smell of mint was just beautiful. The whole allotment is actually very stunning.

Peter helped Sharon on her plot and removed all planting on it getting it ready for the raised planters to be moved onto it.

Whilst Pam, Sandy and I worked on a plot of a lady with disabilities. All we had to do was turn it over and remove the weeds! Easier said than done. We definately got the 'gym' part of GoodGym in tonight..

Within 45 minutes we had done a fair amount of work, and were ready for our photoshoot!

This is a lovely task to do. Great deal of satisfaction and we actually have tasks booked most Saturday's here. They very mulch appreciate our help in case you are free at the weekends.

Tonight was night of firsts

• We had Thomas and Priya join us for the first GoodGym session - great to have you both join us tonight.

• We were doing our first group run session to Raggy Rd Allotments

• My first night of trying to speak Spanish, Parsi and English all at the same time!

We met at Salt Hill Activity Centre and as each member joined us we did a round robin of introductions. Firmo, Jason and Zoe were all recent returnees and it was great to have them back.

With a task overview and route overview loosely given, we were ready to do a warm up. My favorite warm up game of head, shoulders, knees, toes and cone followed by mirror image of exercises! Keith and Firmo looked like they had a dance routine going on! Bravo to you all!

Thyme to grow…

Even though Keith has only been with us since September he did a great job of leading the runners to the task location which I back marked. Keith has actually helped out a few times at this task at the weekends so he actually knew it better than I did. Thank you Keith for being a great help tonight.

On arrival at the task location, we met task owner Anita who gave us an overview of what she’d like done.

• Cutting back of brambles;

• Removal of rubbish;

• Removal of pallets and tyres;

• General cut back of trees;

• Removal of wood;

The bramble bashing was quickly taken on by Keith, Firmo and Jason and they did a remarkable job of getting so much of it cut back

Zoe didn’t tyre of the tasks she was assigned! Lifting and shifting items including two large tyres - who needs bootcamp when you have GoodGym

Priya did a fab job of clearing one plot of all plastic rubbish - nothing beets a bit of gardening prep!

Tom was just the man for the pallets! Carried like a true expert he easily transported them from the plot to the tip! Top job! I hope they all stacked up ok?

Mehdi and Jean did a bit of this and a bit of that! Mehdi was making sure everyone had the necessary wheelbarrow license and Jean was on wood duty! Moving it around into piles for burning and tipping.

In our alloted time slot we managed to do allot

With a quick tidy up and group photo taken we headed back to our meet up location.

Next week we are meeting on a Tuesday night as its a bank holiday on the Monday.

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions

Thank you all for your efforts tonight.

Keith made a solo effort this week to help Anita at Raggy Road allotment prepare their newly acquired plot.

Today's mammoth task was to dig a path to the plot so it is accessible for the elderly and vulnerable people who tend the allotment to help their mental health and wellbeing.

It's so satisfying seeing the progress being made as the new plot develops.

Keith up the good work and hopefully more people can sign up for our next two sessions there on Saturday 27th April and Monday 29th April.

Agnija and Keith headed over to one of our new task owners to get stuck into digging up their new allotment plot and pruning an apple tree.

They were joined by a slithering snake of a friend but they didnt contribute a lot to the task.

There is still lots to do here so do keep an eye out for future listings.