Following a social run and volunteering at Acton junior parkrun with Run Ealing members, a few of the Ealing GoodGymers were ready for yet another escapade that Sunday - and it was before 11 am!

While Sevan and Steph paused to socialise with GoodGym Hounslow and Ealing members in a coffee shop, Kash embarked on a secret mission to smuggle the Walpole Park tools to Ealing Common. While borrowing the equipment was with the ranger's blessing, one wouldn't walk or run around Ealing streets with loppers and a saw, would they? Kash's covert plan had the blades hidden in a canvas bag and additionally obscured by a hi-viz.

The darkest place is under the candlestick

Undisturbed by anyone, Kash delivered the tools to the Common and met Steph and Sevan there. The mission's objective was to clear more overhanging branches along the path next to The Common road, hopefully covering another quarter of the green space's west border. The GoodGymers had made a lot of progress last week, but the scale of the task should not be underestimated.

Being mindful of runners on the path, people relaxing on the benches or enjoying the shade on their yoga mats, the GoodGymers had to skip one tree with a yogini practising meditation and keep their eyes open for trail running enthusiasts when attacking the branches over the path.

The visual result of today's exploits somewhat resembled an idyllic scene from a genre art painting, with stretches of grassland and blue sky visible behind a nicely lifted tree canopy. Even the towers of North Acton, although maybe not the most picturesque, became part of the background.

Ealing Common is a vast space, so another follow-up visit is coming up! Sign up for the next group run to shape the view of Ealing Common with us!