Six runners headed out to the Royal School located in the heart of Windsor Great Park. Our task for the evening was to help out with some gardening and outdoor maintenance at this little first school.

The school was set up in 1843 by her majesty Queen Victoria, and with its links to the crown you might be wondering whether we were stealing work away from the Royal Gardeners. Worry not, the school is funded by RBWM rather than the Royal Estate, and with only 100 pupils it doesn't command a large budget. Despite their stunning location, the school relies heavily on volunteers to upkeep their historical site.

Our hosts were well prepared with clear instructions (with pictures!) on the many tasks they wished us to tackle that evening. We were joined by some of the parents and teachers who got to action. Matt, Jen and Amy started pottering around moving the heavy pottery wheel into the garden, while Sheila had a wheely good time moving some soil with the wheelbarrow and some helpers.
Tara and Kelley cooked up a feast in the mud kitchen, clearing the many weeds. Amy, Tara, Jen and Kelley put some patio stones under the mud kitchen to try and dry it out. The teachers told us it was one of the most popular areas at playtime so hopefully there will be a few more fine cuisine meals concocted in it now it is off the ground.
We were very fortunate to see a great many beasties while we were working, including a huge amount of toadlets that seemed to be making an annual migration through the school gardens. Overhead we were treated to a great display of housemartins nesting in the eves.

When it was time for a break instead of nettle soup we had a delicious coffee.

On our final leg, Matt cleared the shed which was completely overgrown with weeds. Tara, Amy and Kelley cleared the edge of the lawns where we uncovered a purple poppy and a lot of lost balls! Amy made the GG logo with her many balls! Jen said she had a Royally good evening and I think it was fair to say we all agree.