Tonight 15 runners ran 6.5k to help Petersham Common Conservation Group (aka Ken )

The original plan had been to help him plant 300 trees but by the time we turned up things had changed a bit. Instead tonight our mission was to 'heel in' the plants to keep them alive for a few more weeks before they go into the ground in there permanent homes. We were given a quick demonstration and instructed to dig holes large enough to get a full bag of saplings in, then fill in around the roots with soil. Once that was done we had to give them a good firming down with our heels. Now we see where it got it's name!

With so many of us we made light work of the 8-10 bags. Gav gallantly grabbed the biggest bag & therefore had to dig the biggest hole, we hit clay pretty quickly which made the challenge a little stickier. As the area for the holes was very small there was a bit of banging into each other but it's ok, we're all friends here! The 'heeling in' in itself proved tricky with lots of nice new trainers about, but with the help of some bags & our spades we got it sorted.

Special thanks to our lady of the lamp, or our own Florence of Nightingale hill, Jane, who gave herself an arm work out holding up the light for those without head torches. Always exercise to be had here!

We helped Ken clean off the tools and load them back into his car but we still had time on our hands so we headed back to the top of Richmond Hill to do an extended fitness session. Mark challenged us to work in pairs doing plenty of strength exercises and the team put in a great effort with lots of moral support and encouragement from partners in the recovery zone.

As we'd already done a zig zaggy, hilly run to the task and now an extra fitness session we thought it was a safe bet we'd be running directly back to whole foods but nope, not tonight. We headed off down Queens Road. Ciara & Ren were the last back in having run back up and down Kings Road (another hill), that deserves a special cheer, amazing work you two!

Well done to Samantha who ran to join us tonight from Lambeth, great effort!