Title credit goes to Linda when she saw some pics on the WhatsApp chat.

The Wanstead Community Gardeners put out a call for assistance with tackling a rose bush/tree growing through and over another tree. Sounds relatively straightforward, but as usual not quite that simple... We started with picking up some tools, with a ladder being delivered as well. The tricky part turned out to find a safe stable base for the ladder to be able to reach up and 'attack' the inch thick branches overhead.

We managed a fair amount, filling up most of a large builders bag with chopped up branches before admitting defeat and tidy up.

Final verdict: this might be a job for the experts!

After an urgent quick fix last Tuesday, this evening was part two of sorting out the former water tanks turned into planters at the station.

They had been knocked off their bricks during work being done nearby. Back on bricks the target tonight was to make sure they were stable and safe for planting again.

So the muscle crew assembled, gathered some wood for support, slid the smaller planter aside over the wood, rearranged the bricks and moved the planter back in position. Luckily the big one was already stable, it might have been a bit too heavy for the 2 of us!

Task done, we headed off for a relaxed walk / jog, James kindly going easy on still recovering me.

P.S. since both of us had our hands full, no action pics - a few nature shots from our run instead.

In the spirit of #NoMowMay the Wanstead Community Gardeners and in particular Cedric created a leaflet to help convince local residents to help Mother Nature a bit more by a few little changes in looking after their gardens.

Next step, how to get the info to the residents.... up steps Goodgym!

So James & Peter joined Cedric for a jog round the target area. Couple of hundred leaflets and 3 miles later 2 boxes of leaflets were emptied.

The 3rd box was split up to be done in smaller sessions yet to come.

When the Wanstead Community Gardners needed some furniture moving to help them celebrate their 21st birthday of course Marian called in her reliable "Heavy Mob" GoodGym.

5 of us made our way to a local address where Peter picked up two tables, Ed popped another two on to a small trolley and James grabbed two chairs which left Linda and Sibel a cushion each and they thoroughly enjoyed the unfair division of labour 😂.

Back at The Corner House we met Helen and Cedric. Helen joined us setting up the tables and chairs before being called away to help the task owner with something. Cedric had brought some compost and disappeared off to deposit it somewhere useful to the community gardeners.

There was a little waiting around until the gazebos arrived but when they did we soon had them put up with a little improvisation for a couple of missing parts. We are nothing if not resourceful in GoodGym.

Not sure exactly what makes these branches Special, but who are we to question Marian's judgement!

So when the call came asking Goodgym for some muscle, we were happy to come and meet Marian to sort out the branches she sourced to be delivered to the different locations needed.

Linda, Elegia & James tackled the transfer of the big log to the roundabout, while Peter went to find the other branches to be moved from the green to the gravel garden.

Fashionably late arrival Julia managed to dodge a haphazard trip around Wanstead to try and catch up with the different transports and spend some quality time with Marian instead, 'networking'....

The 2024 account of Wanstead Community Gardeners X Goodgym has its first entry!

It has been a while, but this Monday evening we again had the pleasure of joining Marian, Queen of the Wanstead Community Gardeners, for a little adventure out on the High Street of Wanstead.

One of the local cafe's had been a bit exuberant in spreading coffee grinds on the flower/plant bed outside their place, resulting in the soil going more acidic than what the plants could cope with. So tonights challenge was to rescue the few surviving plants, remove the top layer of soil and replace it with fresh soil from Marians secret supply.

The lovely Joscelyn joined us for her first ever Goodgym experience (give her a welcoming cheer!) and already got acquainted with Linda & James on her way in to our base at Wanstead House, with Aj joining us soon after.

The quintet strolled/jogged down to the Cornerhouse to meet Marian and collect kit required, before setting to work sorting this poor flower bed. Many hands make light work, especially with Goodgym bringing the energy (we are nicknamed locally as Marians Muscles...). Even though the light was faded quick, the energy didn't so the job was done in good time.

After tidying up and a chat discussing the various plots and how they fared in the hot summer, it was time to leave a grateful Marian and go on our way again.

Next week Julia is planning something around Hainault - sign up here

In two weeks time we are back at Wanstead House starting the yearly challenge of leaves around our 'home' - sign up here