Three goodgymers joined Maddie from Urban Green on Saturday morning in Iris brick field park to chop trees back and remove ivy from trees.

We set about cutting down small trees which had self planted near the paths to open out the path and make the park feel safer for park users, piling the cutting into a huge pile to be chippered later. While we were doing this a very good dog came over for Maddie to through his ball.

Just over half way through we had a tea break with chocolate biscuits as Maddie pointed out none of the volunteers would choose plain biscuits over chocolate. During which was was a few more cute dogs and had a general discussion about dogs and pets.

After the tea break we had another task to cut the ivy on some trees which had be flagged up on a tree report as being a danger to the tree. We didn't just pull it off as this can damage the tree, instead we cut an inch or so out of each rope of ivy near the bottom of the tree and when the ivy dies it will fall off without damaging the tree. We also found a really cute small abandoned nest.

Well done to Severine on her first community mission!

If you want to get involved with the parks community missions there is another mission cutting back ivy this time at Byker Lodge on the 29th of October, Nunmoor volunteer day on the same day and the next urban Green one is in three weeks

The rain was SO BAD on the way to the task at Stepney Bank Stables tonight that I genuinely wondered a) if anyone would come and b) how on earth we'd be able to paint outdoors!

I need not have worried as a super seven assembled ready for whatever the night would bring: Tanya, Deb and Aimee running, Paul and myself walking, and Rae and newcomer Sev meeting at the task.

We were met by Sara who some will know from previous tasks at Recyke Y Bike. She is still as brilliantly organised, and along with task owner Paula a new task had been quickly arranged in light of the monsoon in toon- painting in the upstairs (dry, warm) party room. After a quick opportunity to pat the horses we got stuck in. Dust sheets down, tins opened and brushes brandished and we got started. I want to give Severine a big cheer for getting totally stuck in on her first task- kudos for some epic effort.

We managed to get one big wall and two radiators done despite some short rollers (and GoodGymers) and minimal mess was caused. The plan is to finish this off when we can in our next three visits to Stepney Bank so be prepared for plans to change.

We finished tonight off with an epic hill session up Stepney Bank- the perfect way to run off those paint fumes!

We are back on TUESDAY next week so come and get involved if you can.

Neigh bother.