Six GoodGymers headed up to the Moulsecoomb Estate allotments for an evening of fresh air, teamwork, and a proper hands-on permaculture challenge. Our host Heidi at the Moulsecoomb Allotment and Horticultural Society look after the plots on Natal Road, and they’d asked for help tackling some of the heavier jobs that had built up over winter.

What we got up to:

• Heidi welcomed us onto the site and gave us a tour of the areas needing attention. With tools gathered and gloves on, we split into small groups and got stuck in:
• Clearing weeds from paths and beds to give the plots some breathing space
• Digging out buried rubbish, including long-forgotten bits of plastic and metal that had been hiding under the soil
• Helping the pollinator-friendly plants by freeing up space around them and removing competing growth
• Building rustic wattle-style plot edges using branches and cuttings — a surprisingly satisfying bit of natural construction that gave the beds a lovely defined border
• Plenty of teamwork and chat, making the graft feel lighter and the afternoon fly by

The results: By the end of the session, the allotment looked noticeably clearer and more cared for. The new twig borders gave the plots structure, the weeds were under control, and several bags of rubbish were removed from the ground. Heidi was delighted with the progress — especially with how much six pairs of hands could achieve in a short time.

And, what a vibe!

A proper GoodGym session: practical, outdoorsy, and full of good energy. Everyone mucked in, swapped tips, and enjoyed the chance to do something physical and rewarding together. The rustic edging challenge turned out to be a highlight, with some surprisingly artistic results. Julien D and Jane were unstoppable in their digging and creative endeavour.

Here some lovely quotes:

“It was great fun to be constructing something for a change. Who knew it wasn’t all about destructive gardening (or bindweed clearing as it often involves)? A great task with a smiley host “

“After what seems like years of digging up carpet and plastic it was refreshing to be creating something nice on the allotments this time, and the stunning sunset was an added bonus“.

To many more sunsets at the allotments with GoodGym Brighton! 🌅

On another evening when wind and rain returned to pelt the coast, this week's turn-out from GoodGym Brighton meandered their way towards a cleaning task at the Cardinal Newman School, whose alumni (including its previous iterations) boast one of Queen Victoria's granddaughters and Ann Quin, local novelist whose 1960s experimental Brighton-set novel Berg is known for its almost circular ending.

One of the most distinctive features of the Cardinal Newman School is a circular arrow-tree in its central atrium, a kind of indoor roundabout or static carousel, with signs all around with the demand 'WALK ON THE LEFT'. The GoodGym gang, entering the building after school hours, were of course able to ambulate where they wished as they tucked into tonight's menu of assignments: sweeping/scooping pigeon excrement in an outside breakout area, or scrubbing/rubbing dirty bannisters flanking the school's showpiece staircase. Some might have projected that the outdoor crew had the short straw, but morale seemed to soar as the trio raced through their faecal challenge and posed grinning against the backdrop of a cheery mural saying 'Together'. Indoors, a larger contingent polished off the muck engrained in the stairs' florid black railings and dark wood banisters with an arsenal of antiseptic wipes, while breaking off to admire the photogenic possibilities of a four-floor selfie.

Assembling by the arrow-tree for a reunited full group photo the GoodGym group looked forward to the fast-approaching Brighton Marathon weekend where, in some instances, the rule will be to run on the right, and the potential excitements of a competitive duel in the dirt at next week's task at Moulsecoomb Allotment, though that's something to be dealt with on another evening.