With Britain in Bloom judges due to arrive next week, Team GoodGym Bexley joined forces with Sidcup & Partners for a final push to help Sidcup put its best foot forward.

Five of us met Colin from Sidcup & Partners outside Sidcup Station, where he explained our task: in a change to the original plan of painting some flower planters (for which Vic was wearing her well-used 'we are doing some painting' GG t-shirt), we were asked to give the sensory garden outside the ticket hall a thorough weed and litter clearance.

Earlier this year we'd helped reclaim the area from a jungle of weeds, ready for new planting, and it was great to see how lovely those plants are now looking. The weeds, however, hadn't given up without a fight, so it was full steam ahead evicting the latest unwelcome arrivals while also collecting the litter that had found its way into the beds.

With the sensory garden looking much tidier, we just had time to turn our attention to the path leading to the station car park, clearing some sneaky weeds there too to create a blooming good first impression from the moment commuters and passengers exit the station.

After an hour of pulling, plucking and picking, the area was looking tidier and well on track for the Britain in Bloom judging. Fingers crossed our efforts help Sidcup get top marks!

GG Bexley spread the cheer, At junior parkruns here and there.

Two teams set out to start the day Helping youngsters run their way.

At Eltham juniors Peter, and Ivar too Joined the volunteering crew.

Across the borough at Lesnes Abbey Woods, Johnny and Sarah delivered the goods.

A perfect way to start the day - so many smiles along the way!

...or rather, front to back in our case 🌿!

We went to help Mr B, an isolated 80-year-old who needed a hand getting both his front and back gardens back under control.

Our first priority was tackling the weeds and grasses growing through the gravel at the front of the house. It was a painstaking job, with lots of tiny plants 🌱🌱 poking up between the stones, but the effort really paid off. As the before-and-after photos show, the transformation was well worth it!

We also trimmed the plants bordering the path to the front door, giving the entrance a neater and more welcoming appearance.

Next, we moved round to the back garden, to focus on two areas that been taken over by bindweed. Although we didn't take any photos, the difference was just as dramatic, and Mr B was delighted with the result.

At GoodGym, tasks like this that support isolated older people are called 'missions'. To take part, you'll need a DBS check and to complete some safeguarding training. Once that's done, you'll be all set to get involved in this rewarding side of GoodGym.

It really is a fantastic way to make a tangible difference to someone's day.

Find out more about GoodGym missions here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/about-missions.

With England's men's team playing in the World Cup semi-final, we were a little thinner on the ground than usual this evening. Thankfully, it was a cracking task close to home, so we still made it back in time to catch the match!

Our mission, courtesy of Vice Principal Jane at Holy Trinity Lamorbey Primary School, was to assemble a flat-pack wooden potion table (aka mud kitchen) for the Early Years play area.

After carefully laying out all the components and matching them to the instructions, it was a case of screwing everything together. Teamwork with Jane meant we made swift progress, although all the squatting required to work at toddler height certainly gave our legs a decent workout!

The whole project came together without a hitch, and it was a real pleasure to move the finished potion table into its new home in the outdoor play area. Jane told us the children will be thrilled to discover it tomorrow.

With the summer holidays now upon us, our next visit won't be until Weds 16 September, when we'll be back to paint some outdoor boards and tackle another flat-pack challenge, this time constructing some art easels. Pop the date in your diary and come along to join the fun!