What a cracking evening at our beautiful Goring spot, where GoodGymers proved once again that many hands really do make light work—and much cleaner green spaces!

Before we got stuck into the task, we paused to celebrate two absolute legends of the group. Huge cheers went up forEl , who smashed her 50th task tonight. It genuinely feels like she’s always been part of the crew—she fits in so naturally and brings such great energy every time 👌😍

And then, in truly jaw-dropping fashion, Barbarahit an incredible 400 good deeds. Yes, 400! A phenomenal milestone that speaks volumes about her dedication and spirit. She is, without question, one of the stalwarts of our group.

We’ll be locking in a date for a joint celebration in the coming weeks, but for now—massive congratulations to you both 👏

With celebrations complete, we headed out in different directions armed with bags and determination. The mission? Tackle litter and restore a bit of sparkle to our local beauty spot. Mission well and truly accomplished—everyone managed to fill a bag each, making a visible difference across the area.

A simple task, but such a worthwhile one. Great teamwork, great impact, and a great way to spend the evening.

Very well done, everyone 💚

It was a real treat to return to our regular task at English Martyrs First School, where Head Teacher Helen and premises manager Richard gave us their usual warm welcome. It’s always such a lovely atmosphere here, and even more so when shared with this wonderful team who never fail to raise a smile.

Tonight offered a choice of tasks, with something for everyone. Indoors, the mission was to freshen up a recently renovated transition room, while outdoors the focus was on continuing the varnishing of the sheds we’d previously worked on (doors first, now the full works!).

Inside, Sue, El, Belinda and I got to work tackling those easy-to-miss spots – covering over blue tack marks and scuffs with a smart coat of grey paint. It’s always satisfying seeing those little imperfections disappear and the room come together.

Meanwhile outside, Paul and Barbara took on the important job of varnishing (but not vanishing!) the sheds, making great progress under the watchful eye of John, who had kindly volunteered as photographer for the evening. I (Julia) was especially grateful for that, as it meant I could fully get stuck into the task without worrying about capturing the action.

All in all, it was a really sociable and productive hour, and a joy to be back doing what we do best together.

After what felt like a very long winter break, tonight marked our triumphant return to the Heene Church Rooms garden that we last visited way back at the end of October. And oh, how it had missed us… or perhaps more accurately, how the weeds had thrived without us!

Thanks to an exceptionally wet winter paired with surprisingly mild temperatures, the garden had turned into a full-on jungle. Tonight’s mission? Nothing short of a major weed-busting operation.

The good news: the evenings are officially on our side again! It was still light at 6pm when we arrived, and stayed that way right through to our 7pm finish — a sure sign that spring (and GoodGym gardening season) is well and truly back.

Our brilliant team tonight brought both energy and excellent chat. Soon-to-be parents Sarah and Ryan were on top form, with Sarah proudly showcasing her impressive 6-month baby bump whilst Barbara turned heads with a stunnnew hairstyle, adding a touch of glam to the gardening gloves.

Fresh from soaking up the sun in Gran Canaria, Belinda and John arrived glowing , proof, if ever needed, that a bit of winter sun does wonders. It was also fantastic to welcome Gill, who cycled in like an absolute hero, and Ricky, who kept us all guessing with hints of his upcoming top secret holiday.

Between the catching up, laughter, and a bit of gentle speculation about Ricky’s mysterious getaway, we somehow managed to make a serious dent in the wilderness. Beds were cleared, weeds were banished, and order was (partially!) restored.

A joyful return, a cracking team effort, and lighter evenings ahead — what more could we want? 🌱