A trip out of Richmond centre to Petersham Common to pick up the litter that is sadly discarded along the roadside.

A welcome return to Sea Scouts this evening, though not via the river path that has been underwater a lot the last few days!

Task Owner Russell met us there to explain what needed to be done in the dark: cut back all of the hedge coming through the current old wooden fence in preparation for the old one to be removed and a secure new metal fence to be placed.

Choppers, loppers and a trimmer were the tools of the day, along with some floodlights, and with Russell joining in too, we managed to cover a long section in 45 minutes, as well as some driftwood sorting into the bonfire piles.

The evening finished with a steady run back to Richmond, but not before a sudden interruption for a passer-by who had heard a strange creature in distress - we came running and found some mating toads who were not keen on any help! 🐸

Friday night is for most people pub night and maybe a pub quiz to start off the week end. Two Goodgymers decided to join Mind at their Mind Quiz and Curry night at St Stephens church in Richmond. Susan arrived early to help setup and give hand in the kitchen. Steph Ducat a bit later to meet lovely Jo and Suzanne who he already knows from the Elf Mind fun run. Assigned to raffle tickets with some great prizes. The quiz master kicked off the evening after everyone had their lovely home made curry. MIND your business was the rule for the evening : no cheating. Susan was minding her business with the other volunteers in the kitchen. Half time and it was rush hour at the bar and raffle table for more drinks and chances of winning a fabulous prize. Fantastic evening and yes 2 undercover Goodgymers - GG Tops under the Mind T Shirts.

Six GGers turned out for our first visit this year to Richmond Furniture scheme.

Saturday's job, assigned by RFS CEO Simon, was to strip down a stash of pallets so that they could then reuse the wood.

Provided with claw hammers, crow bars and other bits and pieces from the workshop, we set about our work.

JP and Luis proved adept at hammer time, Suze, meanwhile was tasked with the challenging removing the nails from the wood once It was broken up, while Harry, Chris and Adam attempted to take it in turns with a particularly stubborn pallet that was too well constructed.

Overall,however, this mission proved a smashing success!

On a bright but cold day at Ham Lands, our GoodGym crew - welcoming first-timers Clare and Nadya - gathered for a satisfying task: liberating a cherry tree that had all but disappeared beneath a thicket of suckers.

These vigorous new growths had sprung up from the tree’s roots and were crowding out the space around it, competing for nutrients. Fuelled by enthusiasm (and a need to keep warm!), we set to work.

Using a combination of loppers for the thinner and handsaws for the thicker suckers we spread around the tree and attacked the task with gusto. The cut-down suckers soon started to form a large pile near the tree, which Friends of Ham Lands leader Sharon began moving to the undergrowth nearby.

As the cherry tree was revealed and the pile grew larger, several of the GoodGym team switched to removal duties. All the while we had been careful not to cut two of the suckers on which rare butterfly eggs had been found, so these remained standing close to the tree.

As usual for a Ham Lands task, on finishing we gathered at the Swiss Bakery for well deserved hot drinks and treats, happy with our morning’s efforts.

Our February trip to our lovely sponsored riverside plots to look after them in the down season so they are fabulous in the summer, for everyone who passes by, including us!

This evening started at Tap Tavern with a warm welcome to Cally and Philip from Richmond Foundation who joined us for the first time to see what GoodGym is all about. And to Ivo who knows very well what it's all about as our CEO!

We took a moment to celebrate Adam becoming a fitness leader, Lucy arrived with news from the winter Olympics that Team GB had not smashed the mysterious art of curling, and we gave a little hoorah to Nina completing 25 tasks, Chris and completing 475 🥳

A good warm-up and lovely run along the riverside with a very high tide creeping in, we were met at the plot by Susannah and Rosie who manage the task as Taskforce, along with our resident outdoor expert, Ken who was working on a solution for hops supports.

After a short fitness session run by Liz we got stuck in to the real business of turning compost, weeding beds, collecting up leaves and sorting the supports. By next month we should start to see a little daylight at tasks, spring is coming!

Join us on the first Saturday and second Monday every month to help look after these lovely little patches of Richmond 😍