🌱🌻We had a lovely morning at Bevendean Downs parkrun with Rich and some prospective new GoodGymers! It was so rewarding to see the flowerbeds GoodGym helped dig looking great. After the run, we checked out the plant sale at The Bevy. Snagged some plants at the sale and brushed up on my recycling skills playing the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership game @harvestbrighton.

Dave is already looking forward to our next visit at The Bevy—he’s even promised to bake us eclairs! Now just counting down the days until then! ✨ 🤩 Who’s coming?

#GoodGym #Brighton #Parkrun

15 GoodGymers ran out to Valley View Gardens ready to get stuck into some gardening at the YMCA… but sometimes plans have other ideas. We’re pretty good at going with the flow (and the run).

First stop: a quick drop-off of rescued food from Olio—because sharing is caring and no good food should go to waste.

With our original task off the table, we didn’t leaf it there. Instead, we branched out to the nearby Round Hill Conservation Area. We were only there last week, but turns out the weeds didn’t take the hint. We tackled overgrown trees, gave the pavements a good de-weed, and helped make the area safer by clearing trip hazards.

Good to see familiar faces, Philippa and Michael, and returning, fair weather 🌞 GoodGymers, who keep powering our amazing Brighton Area with their Good will. Welcome back Amy and Cagdas.

Our donation of food, sandwiches and pastries, was a huge hit at the YMCA today. It was a tough day for many, expecially the residents and staff, and we’re happy we could help lift their spirits.

All in all, a tree-mendous effort from everyone—proof that even when plans change, GoodGymers always find a way to make a difference 🌱

We will be back here next week!

9 GoodGymmers walked, ran and cycled over to Round Hill to help the Round Hill Society keep the streets of the neighbourhood tidy. We welcomed local councillor Raf for his first mission as a GoodGym member and welcomed back 3 of our recent marathon runners (Rosie, Liam and double-champ "more marathons than a 1980s tuckshop" Ruth).

Upon arrival we got a quick pep talk from Dom and then went to pick-up brooms, shears and spades and set to work trimming back the hedges, cutting back bindweed and picking up litter. It was great to see the hedges still looking in a good condition after our visit last year and this time we didn't need to cut back anywhere near as much - although there was of course a healthy chunk of bindweed.

This mission was part of the Workout For The Future campaign recently launched by GoodGym to promote activities that help the environment, create a community connection and keep people healthy. Look out for more over the next few months! The task marked the 1 year anniversary of the creation of the Round Hill Community Pocket Park by the Society.

We made quick work of the topiary and after a snap with Dom we crept back home in the fading spring light.

*Report title must be sung to the tune of One Step Closer by Linkin Park

On a sunny but chilly Tuesday evening, 12 GoodGymmers made their way up (and up and up...) to St Luke's Primary School in Hanover, for our annual task of helping to get the props ready for the Children's Parade, which kicks off the Brighton Festival.

This year the parade is themed on the National Year of Reading, and the children of St Lukes chose the book "The Cave Baby" for inspiration - complete with a giant mammoth puppet. However, we kept our hands dry from papier-mache this time round, and were instead tasked with cutting out as many paper leaves as possible - to be used for the children's cave baby costumes.

We were given a blue-peter style demonstration by our host Lara, and after a hunt for left-handed scissors and some ingenious card-folding - we set about drawing and cutting.

We posed for a quick photo proudly holding our leaves (points to our lovely first timerDerek for creativity) and then headed to the park to share some delicious homemade Tiramisu to celebrate our own Stefania birthday!

On a gloriously sunny morning, Sherman and Roy headed out to help Mrs I with her lovely garden. As Mrs I is currently unsteady on her feet, we focused our energy on the bottom end of the garden, an area she finds particularly difficult to reach.

Sherman took charge of the rear bushes, giving them an impressive trim and clearing away stubborn weeds. He also skillfully lifted and separated one of Mrs I's favourite plants, replanting it in several new spots to help it thrive across the garden.

Roy focused on the rear patio and beds, ensuring every weed was accounted for. He also successfully removed a small, dead tree trunk that might be hazard to the grandchildren.

After completing the task, we were treated to some very welcome coffee and chocolate snacks. It was a pleasure to sit with Mrs I and enjoy the view of her refreshed garden. She hopes we'll return as there's always work to be done! Another successful mission.

St John the Evangelist is a welcoming and inclusive Anglican church in Brighton. They launched a new befriending gardening club and welcomed GoodGym’s help to get it off the ground.

A small party of Brighton GoodGymers turned up with enthusiasm to help a core gardening group, represented by Jane and Lisa, who welcomed us ready with a few tasks including lawn mowing, planting and overall tidy up of a nice green pocket behind the church. 🌞 The weather was gorgeous! This GoodGym session was also a little and genuine goodwill in return of Rev Emma's generosity for providing The Brighton Multiculture Women Bike Club, The BMW's, with a bikes storage.

💜We will be back in force next time, together with more BMWs 💜 🌸