Sometimes the smallest teams make the biggest difference, and that was certainly true on this beautiful summer evening.

John, Belinda and I, together with my ever-faithful litter-picking sidekick Hudson 🐾, were delighted to welcome our newest GoodGym recruit – six-week-old Diago! Although he was a little young to wield a litter picker, he supervised proceedings brilliantly while enjoying his second GoodGym adventure with Mum and Dad, Sarah and Ryan.

Our mission took us around one of our favourite local beauty spots, which sadly seems to attract its fair share of litter. Armed with grabbers, gloves and plenty of conversation, we soon got to work, catching up as we combed the area.

By the time we'd finished, we'd filled three bags to bursting point – so full they were almost too heavy to carry! While it's disappointing to see so much rubbish in such a lovely place, it's always satisfying knowing we've left it looking that little bit cleaner for everyone to enjoy.

With the sun shining, the sea sparkling and the wind doing its very best to rearrange our hairstyles, we strolled (or, in some cases, jogged!) back along the seafront, feeling grateful for good company, wagging tails, new friendships and another small but mighty GoodGym mission accomplished.

It was a beautiful warm July evening, the sort that reminds you why volunteering outdoors is such a joy. With sunshine, plenty of laughter and a garden that had well and truly embraced the "rewilding" trend, we returned to St Botolph's Church Garden to help bring some order back to the wilderness.

A huge welcome back to Mel and Paul, who have both been living life at full speed recently between work, a cycling tour and campervan adventures. It was brilliant to have you both back where you belong—in the middle of a bramble patch!

Joining our wonderful hosts Val and Rik were John, Belinda, El, Ricky and Julia (me), all ready to ' leaf no branch unturned' 

Massive thanks to John and Belinda, who arrived  complete with a battery-powered hedge cutter, a handy little step, secateurs and other bits and pieces too. 

There wasn't much standing around—we all got stuck in straight away, taking on thick ivy, towering brambles and enough unruly foliage to keep a small army busy. Nature had definitely taken root!

Paul claimed the west side of the garden, battling both the overgrowth and a rather enthusiastic wind that clearly hadn't read the forecast. Meanwhile, I took on the glamorous role of chief wheelbarrow chauffeur with multiple trips to the compost heap as greenery flew in from every direction.

Once Paul's section was under control, he joined John and Ricky, who were busy uncovering the hidden area behind the old air raid shelter. With every thorny branch removed, more of the forgotten space emerged from its leafy disguise.

Nearby, Belinda, Mel and El were making fantastic progress clearing thick ivy and stubborn brambles from the church wall. Refusing to stop there, they ventured beyond the wall into the tranquil church garden itself, where they continued their assault on the undergrowth. Safe to say the weeds were firmly on the back foot by then.

Slowly but surely, the mountain of cuttings grew, the compost heap became ever fuller, and the garden started looking less Jurassic Park and more Secret Garden.

By the end of the evening there was a huge sense of satisfaction. Hidden paths started to reappear, walls could be seen again, and another treasured community space had enjoyed a proper GoodGym makeover.

A gorgeous summer evening, fantastic teamwork, plenty of banter, and proof once again that when GoodGym gets to the root of a problem, there's no stopping us.