We helped litter pick at a community green space. Lots of diving into the bushes to get the hard reach bits. Wilder Portsmouth, tree wardens and HIWWT were all busy replanting planters.

Three Goodgymers made their way to the community planting event at Embassy Court.

We helped use wheelbarrows to transport mulch and soil from a nearby school to fill five new planters. Mel and Jane both kept their cool despite the scorching sun and stuck around to continue helping with additional planting to help beautify the neighbourhood with some new ferns, honeysuckle, lavender, mint and more!

Huge thanks to Mathilde at Wilder Portsmouth for organising this initiative!

We had a great turnout at the green in Eastney today for an exciting variety of tasks that included: - litter picking - weeding - composting - mulching trees - planting trees - and a surprise wassailing sing along!

For those who aren't familiar with this tradition, wassailing refers to drinking and singing to the health of trees in the hopes that they might better thrive.

"Apple tree, apple tree, we all come to wassail thee, Bear this year and next year to bloom and to blow, Hat fulls, cap fulls, three cornered sack fills, Hip, Hip, Hip, hurrah, Holler biys, holler hurrah!"

Wilder Eastney and the Hampshire & Isle Of Wight Wildlife Trust were on hand to provide us with a cup of warm apple cider and wheel barrows full of compost and mulch to keep us merry!

A very warm welcome to our new Goodgymer Jane who was able to identify a mermaid's purse and some beautiful buck's horn plantain amongst the treasures we found along the way!