The Chelmsford YHA "Ground Force" team returned to Saffron Walden for the third time on Saturday and Sunday 17/18th April 1999, to start the real work after the planning and surveying sessions. On Saturday we had up to twelve people working, plus two young onlookers (Julia Fazackerley & Bethany Strellis).  The garden was transformed with the main vegetable beds, the herb garden and, a sizeable tangle of bramble beds being cleared. Darren presented his master plan and stayed for most of the day, despite competing in the London marathon the next day. Six of us returned on

Sunday morning to finish off. The budlea took three people the best part of Saturday to remove but was ultimately beaten. The weekend's labours completely filled a skip.

Thanks very much to everybody who turned up and supported us.  We even got our picture in the local newspaper, the Saffron Walden Reporter.

Further working weekends are planned for June, July and August.

These sessions will now be constructive rather than destructive as we put Darren's plan into action. Watch this space ~ more news and latest pictures coming soon!

The Credits: Our thanks go to Suzanne, the hostel manager; Peter and Edgar of Cambridge YHA Local Group; Jim (who organised us), Darren (chief horticulturist), Andrew, Dave P, Dave J, Trudi, Chris H, Chris S, Janet, Steve, Caroline, Ann, Lorna and Petra of Chelmsford YHA Local Group; and Elvis, the hostel rabbit, for assisting with the digging.