August 2 - Day 107 - We don’t grow when things are easy, we grow when we face challenges.

Today is not just the start of a new week but the start of reopening further parts of the Centre, like the café. It has been great to see clients’ faces as they get an opportunity to sit and read the paper, play dominoes or have a toastie in the café. With some new changes and different approaches it really does feel that out of the challenge has come new growth and that every penny raised through this challenge is having an impact.

Talking of growth that seems unstoppable, we are all familiar with the Rosebay Willowherb that seems determined to grow anywhere and everywhere. The picture was taken on Friday as I thought the raindrops enhanced the pink (or purple?) flower spikes.

It is thought that the spread of the plant so widely was due to two world wars clearing or burning areas of land in town and countryside, which provided just the right conditions for it to thrive in. It is able to colonise new areas because of its seeds - fitted with cottony 'parachutes' they are able to disperse across large distances on a slight breeze. Each plant can produce up to 80,000 seeds and the heat from fires can help to germinate them. From both pieces of information, it is clear to see why Rosebay Willowherb has the two common names of ‘bombweed’ and fireweed’.

I couldn’t finish today’s blog, however, without mentioning the challenge that Stuart Kettell completed on this day in 2014. As the BBC describes, he ‘pushed a Brussels sprout up Snowdon using his nose, reaching the summit 1,085m (3,560ft) in three days and raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.’ Cycling for 30 weeks seems quite a small challenge in comparison, especially and luckily, as no sprouts are involved.