This week we were back at the Welling Library to finish off the weeding and litterpicking at the front and along the side of the building. Some of us ran a short distance to the task.

We had some new equipment in the form of secateurs and shears to aid us, and we had it all looking great in no time!

After tidying away we had the obligatory group photograph then headed to the pub to celebrate Sarah's birthday!

Seven GoodGymers headed to Days Lane Primary School for our very first task there — and we certainly picked a dramatic evening for it.

While the skies were busy putting on a total solar eclipse, we had our own transformation happening a little closer to ground level: turning the school fence a rather lovely sky blue.

Armed with brushes, paint and plenty of enthusiasm, the seven of us worked our way along the fence and made a pretty impressive dent in the job. There’s something very satisfying about seeing a tired-looking stretch of fence become brighter with every brushstroke — especially when you’ve got a whole team working together.

Sadly, unlike the eclipse, our fence transformation wasn’t quite total… 🌘 We ran out of evening before we ran out of fence.

Luckily, this is only the beginning of our partnership with Days Lane Primary School, and we’ll be back next week to finish the job.

A brilliant first task, a very blue fence, seven willing painters and one rather spectacular sky. Not bad for a Wednesday evening!

Another hot evening was upon us as we arrived at Welling Library where weeds and brambles had certainly taken hold despite the heatwave!

We soon got stuck in - Sophie collected litter while the rest of us tackled the plants and prickly brambles that had crept across the pathway alongside the building and the yard at the back.

Some of the weeds stuck to us - Alice actually had green fingers!

Well done to Sophie on her 10th good deed!

The time flew by and we bundled up the sacks of cuttings, put away the tools and headed to the Nags Head for a drink and some snacks.

Well done all! The before and after pics show what a difference we made!

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!

What did you do last night?

We spent a lovely hour in nature, building bug hotels for Holy Trinity Lamorbey Primary School.

Seven of us headed to the school, where a stack of pallets and bricks was waiting to be transformed into new habitats for insects and other tiny residents.

Working in two teams, each took on a hotel of their own. We started with an upturned pallet and filled it with leaves, twigs, fallen branches gathered from around the grounds, plus a haul of pine cones we’d collected and brought along. Once each layer was packed, we set bricks at the corners to act as spacers and repeated the process. By the end we'd created the bug equivalent of two multi‑storey skyscrapers!

Afterwards we enjoyed a slice of battenburg cake (I know, when was the last time you had battenburg!) which rounded off the session very nicely!

It was a really peaceful, enjoyable task: gentle activity, plenty of fresh air, and lots of good chat. And best of all, the new habitats will support the school’s eco learning curriculum, giving pupils a chance to explore and understand the wildlife right on their doorstep.

Next week it's something completely different when we visit Parkview Care Home where they always have something lined up to keep us busy, with their lovely residents lending a hand. Sign up here.