Adventures in Farnham and having a dig

2nd September 2013

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Last month I hinted in my Post ‘Adventures in Farnham on with the sports gear’ that I might not be the greatest fan of sport. It is not that I mind watching occasionally but that is as far as I want to take it. Now I don’t want you to think that my life is devoid of all exercise, being short in stature I am aware that if I leave things to run their course I am in danger of one day being as tall lying down as I am standing up. One way or another I have to burn off the calories.

I know of at least two excellent ways of exercising while having a good time in Farnham. The first is to turn up on a Wednesday morning at 10:00 and join the ‘Friends of Farnham Park’ in their weekly volunteering session run by Robin, the Farnham Park Ranger. When I first volunteered many years ago when Molly was hardly more than a puppy there were sometimes more dogs than owners. Today there is a large regular crowd that take part and there is still Himalayan Balsam being pulled (good for upper body strength) and the fixing of fences and building of paths. I still swell with pride every time I cross one of the bridges over the stream and want to tell anyone who happens to be walking nearby “.. …I helped to build this….” I am not sure if it is the same today but the tea at 11:00 provided by the Ranger’s flask was always the best of the week.

Over at the other side of the town at Runfold or nearer the park at Dippenhall there are volunteers who prefer to eat what they pull out. Farnham Local Food Co-op kindly provides activities for all muscle groups whether it is digging up potatoes, weeding carrots, building supports for beans or sowing seeds into relatively straight lines. There are no winners in the race to fill the weekly veg boxes sold to members nor certificates handed out but with the beautiful weather this summer, exercising outdoors has been its own reward.

Well enough of this typing as Farnham’s ‘Food Fortnight’, is coming up on the 14th September with the grand finale ‘Feast of Food’ on the 28th and if I am to remain svelte I will need to pack in a lot of digging before that!

Eleanor Thomas aka KnitNell is a resident of Farnham. For more of her musings and illustrations do pop over to her regular blog at www.knitnell.com.

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