Our monthly session at the Community Hospice this morning saw us heading down the garden path, well actually two of them!

As usual, we met Head Gardener Jas in the café, for a quick catch-up over a cuppa before making our way to the tool shed to collect the equipment we would need.

With the sun beating down, Jas kindly directed us to jobs in the shade.

Johnny returned to the block-paved path leading to the main entrance, armed with a scraper and on a mission to finish what we'd started a few months ago. The remaining moss and weeds didn't stand a chance!

Meanwhile, Jas, Alice and Sarah headed into the woodland area to work on a path that was steadily disappearing beneath a sea of bracken. Wearing trusty yellow gauntlets, we moved along the route pulling up the ferns as close to the roots as possible. Some of the plants weren't ready to be evicted and put up some resistance, but that just made for an excellent workout!

By the end of the session, the entrance path was looking fully neat and welcoming, while the woodland trail had been reclaimed and was once again easy to follow.

With our work done we headed back to the hospice cafeteria for plenty more chatting over a tasty lunch.

We'll be back again next month to see what Jas has in store for us. He likes to keep us on our toes and always has a new task up his sleeve, which helps make these sessions varied and interesting. If you'd like to join us next time, you can sign up here.

This morning was another three hour session down at the Community Hospice sorting centre in Welling, going through as many of the many donated bags of clothes and whatnots as we could in the time.

Today was the most bags we'd ever seen piled up in the large metal cages. Thankfully Caroline and I were joined by new GoodGymmer Alice to help out. While Caroline showed Alice the ropes, I worked on a separate table. Alice took to it all straight away!

During our regular sessions here, we usually come across the odd thing that raises a smile; this morning was no exception with amusing statements on t-shirts and other items. We posed for the two most worthy of a picture!

I'm often surprised at the statements people are prepared to wear proudly, and our finds today reminded me of the time Caroline and I saw a very well built body builder-type chap wearing a 'World's Greatest Gran' t-shirt!

Hopefully the items we unpacked today will soon be worn proudly by new owners, with their resale raising vital funds for the Community Hospice's amazing work.

Congratulations on your first ever GG task, Alice- great to have you with us! We look forward to seeing you again soon.

If you fancy helping with this much needed donation sorting, drop us a line and we'll find some new dates with the Hospice team.

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!

Peter and Ivar were flying the colours for Goodgym at Eltham junior parkrun in Eltham Park South, Peter keeping the time, Ivar marshalling by the big tree.

Our jobs? Cheering, clapping and proving that support is a running theme. There were speedy finishes, personal bests and plenty of small strides making big pride.

A cracking Sunday morning with the future generation of runners.

...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.