Anastasia Hancock

Over the years we have helped prep the historic mural outside Turnham Green station, then help with its upkeep. The time has come for us to give it a good clean. We'll help carry over buckets and ladders, give it a good tidy up, then move everything back again. This will help make the area clean and welcoming for people in the area.

Last night we straightened our toggles, practised our knots, and got ourselves prepared for a trip back to the Scouts. Battersea Scouts have a hall in Wandsworth but over the lockdown, when it was shut, the outside area became overgrown and unmanageable. Our job was to clear the space of brambles and weeds so that it could be used again by the young community.

We started off with our usual warm up and our question for the night was about sandwiches - specifically the best filling. The controversy never stops! Cheese was by far and away the favourite, whether that be swiss, goat or cheddar. Prawns got an honourable mention, and we even had one call for pineapple.

The scout hut was pretty close by so we took ourselves off for an extended run up to Clapham Common before arriving at he hall at the same time as scout master Peter. He quickly showed us all the jobs were to be done and furnished us with some tools, including a massive piece of tarpaulin to stomp down brambles which, as Catherine pointed out, just showed that Scouts were ready and prepared for anything.

Before long the area was looking much better, with access to the garage and a space cleared for the beavers to plant their herb garden and strawberries. We'll be back soon to finish off the good work and earn ourselves our GoodGym badge.

Next week we're off to a community garden in Wandsworth Town to help out the one volunteer that manages the whole space. You can sign up here and don't forget to check out the missions happening throughout the week. Happy running everyone!

Which famous person, dead or alive, would you like to take out to dinner? On a chilly night in Hounslow, this was the question we discussed as we warmed up ready for the task ahead.

Freddy Mercury, both Queen Elizabeths, Ferran Adrià and Michelle Obama all made the guest list, along with a few lucky others. The invites in the mail!

Our job for the evening was at Cultivate London, a social enterprise which works to improve health and wellbeing across London by encouraging and supporting local communities to engage with their green spaces. So, after a quick mile's run, we arrived to meet Michael, who gave us a demonstration of the task.

In yet another step towards GoodGym horticultural excellence, our job was to plant no less than five boxes of alium and hyacinth bulbs. We quickly separated into stations, each tackling filling, planting, covering and transporting. It was hard to know when to stop, but after more than 200 pots planted, along with some very exuberant singing, we decided to call it a night.

A swift run back to base and we were ready to warm up with a short but intense tabata session followed by an upper body blast. Great work tonight team, next time you see a beautiful alium or hyacinth somewhere in hounslow, there's a good chance it could be one we planted!

Next week you might want to wear an extra layer or something waterproof as we're off to give the mural at Turnham Green Station a good clean. You can sign up for all the fun here. Until then, happy running!

Voluntary Action Camden (Social Prescribing) asked GoodGym to help Ms F with some food shopping.