It was a return mission to Ms K's increasingly wild garden for the intrepid duo, Sherman and Roy. Both arrived fully equipped for the midday heat, complete with caps, sunglasses, water bottles and gardening gloves.

Sherman wasted no time getting to grips with Ms K's new battery-powered saw, while Roy opted for a pair of long-handled shears. Undeterred by the blazing sunshine, the pair set to work on the overgrown bushes lining the driveway.

The brambles, however, were not ready to surrender without a struggle. They resisted and scratched at every turn, but were ultimately no match for the determination of these two seasoned garden warriors.

After a hard-fought battle, the overhanging branches were vanquished, weeds were uprooted from the patio, and order was restored to the garden. With another successful mission completed, Sherman and Roy departed victorious, ready for the next horticultural challenge.

Yesterday, new GoodGymer Lynn and I teamed up with lead chef and fellow GoodGymer, David, to cook a vibrant meal for the Choir with No Name. On the menu was a colourful, vegetable-packed dahl served right after their Monday rehearsal, giving everyone a perfect opportunity to "eat the rainbow." Not only did I learn the true meaning behind that colorful phrase, but I also picked up a brilliant shortcut for peeling garlic quickly!

"Eat the rainbow" is a straightforward nutrition concept centered on plant pigments. The vibrant colours in fruits and vegetables come from powerful phytonutrients and antioxidants, with each colour profile offering unique health benefits:

• Red foods (like tomatoes and grapefruit) contain lycopene, which helps protect against certain cancers.
• Orange foods (like squash and carrots) are packed with beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A for healthy skin.
• Yellow foods (like sweetcorn and yellow peppers) provide carotenoids that actively protect our eyes.
• Green foods (like broccoli, kale, and spring greens) deliver iron and energy-boosting compounds to help prevent anaemia.
• Purple foods (like aubergines, red cabbage, and blueberries) offer anthocyanins, which serve as excellent anti-agers.

Energised by the prospect of this colourful feast, the choir beautifully rehearsed the repertoire for their upcoming summer gig with Soul in the City on Saturday 18th July.

The Ship Song - Song by Nick Cave from the The Good Son Album 1990

*Come sail your ships around me And burn your bridges down We make a little history, baby Every time you come around

Come loose your dogs upon me And let your hair hang down You are a little mystery to me Every time you come around

Mission Commencement: Tuesday, 1830 hours.

The Squad: Eight GoodGym operatives arriving via foot, bike, and bus.

The Objective: Clear a severe nettle insurgency to liberate the allotment’s blackberry and pear trees.

Tactical Execution The team deployed immediately upon arrival. Operatives Sarah, Stefania, and Ruth formed the frontline defense against the stingers, bravely cutting them back (smartly utilizing their advanced tactical gear: long trousers). The rest of the squad provided crucial support, handling general weeding duties to secure the area.

Meanwhile, Michael was sent on a solo side-quest to prep the allotment beds for incoming squashes. During the excavation, he uncovered some hidden assets: rogue potatoes and what local liaison Warren officially described as the "Biggest Garlic bulb we’ve ever seen."

Mission Accomplished With the enemy nettles decisively defeated and defensive cardboard successfully laid, all objectives were secured, and the squad stood down for a mandatory debrief inside the pub. The evening concluded successfully with some well-earned refreshing drinks and a bit of covert World Cup viewing.

Mission Status: 100% success

In 2 hours we chopped enough onions and carrots and cabbage for a venison stew to feed 50-70 people tomorrow. We also mixed 30 eggs with 2kg of butter, 1.5kg of sugar, and 1.5kg of flour for a massive sponge cake. Not only that, but we efficiently composted the peelings, fried the veg in massive pots and cleaned up to leave it tidy afterwards! The stew was left stewing in the capable hands of master chef John. Thanks for all who helped!

Yesterday, we saw record GoodGym participation to help a new organisation: the MEP Multiculture English Project Garden Project. Since 2010, the project has taught gardening, horticulture, and English language skills to asylum seekers, providing a dedicated space to put this knowledge into action.

We welcomed back returning GoodGymers—Rob, Rachel, Rebecca, and Rosie — alongside tree brand-new members: Liz, Abdallah, Mohammed. They all took on the fitness challenge of running or cycling uphill for nearly 5km to reach Roedale Valley Allotments, located in a lush green valley near the top of Ditchling Road. Once there, Will welcomed the team with several tasks, including landscaping, weeding, turning compost, and wheelbarrowing mulch up and down the allotment slopes.

Another Workout for the Future!

Allotments are invaluable community assets that boost health and wellbeing, provide sustainable growing spaces, and create biodiverse green corridors. Beyond being a vital part of our city's heritage, they play a crucial role in our future. These sites act as critical urban wildlife havens, supporting plant, insect, and animal life by providing diverse microhabitats. In fact, these sanctuaries can support up to 50 times more pollinators than standard council-managed parks. Furthermore, the project's allotment sessions help participants learn new vocabulary, engage in physical activity, and adopt healthy lifestyles—massively benefiting their mental health, confidence, and self-esteem.

It was a thoroughly pleasant evening supporting a fantastic new initiative—definitely one to remember and return to!

Want to get involved? Check out what else is coming up HERE at GoodGym Brighton.

Here's Lucy report of our group session with the Friends of Vale Park. Welcome!

"It was only my second time at GoodGym Brighton and yet I already feel very much a part of this wonderful group.

This week we battled the high winds and ran or cycled from Brighton/Hove up to Vale Park in Portslade, which was a lovely way to shake off the cobwebs from the working day.

When we arrived, we were met with stunning rose bushes lining one side of the park filling the space with bright red, pink, orange and white colours. They needed de-weeding so local residents could continue to enjoy them – and that’s where we came in!

So we donned our gardening gloves, picked up our shears and joined the Friends of Vale Park to pull up the weeds in the flower beds. Everyone did a great job - the before and after shots are quite something!

I don’t get much of a chance to do gardening myself, but I absolutely loved it, and it was an excellent way to take part in the Great Big Green Week. Getting away from screens and out in the fresh air just does something to you! And it’s even better when you’re doing it with other people and you know the work you’re doing is having a positive impact.

We finished up with some delicious Pret pastries in the sun which Stefania kindly brought for us.

Safe to say, I really loved the session, and I can’t wait to be a regular at GoodGym Brighton."

This week GoodGym's Workout for the Future falls during The Big Green Week 2026 and showcases another inclusive and organised "green deed" benefiting the green spaces near us.

From GoodGym Environmental Statement:

GoodGym increases biodiversity in cities.

Yesterday, GoodGym Brighton supported the sustainability of the pollinator-friendly rose oasis at Vale Park, Portslade. 🌹🐝 To protect a thriving ecosystem of bees, butterflies, birds, and beneficial insects, GoodGym targeted approach to weeding is essential. Removing aggressive, invasive weeds stops them from dominating the landscape. By selectively clearing green spaces, GoodGym gives native plants the light, space, and nutrients they need to grow. This simple act restores the natural habitats and food sources our local wildlife depends on! 🌿✨