2 Goodgymers returned to Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick to help with a furniture moving task.

The original plan had been to help with getting the plants in the front garden in tip top shape with a hair cut before the spring. However, with rain earlier in the evening there had been a last minute change of plan to something less soggy!

Our task this evening started in the garage where there was a large steel hostess trolley that needed moving. First we were shown the route through the garden gate and around the garden where we needed to transport the trolley. With a sack trolley to hand, Nigel carefully planned the best way to organise the hostess trolley on the sack trolley to ensure it would fit through the garden gate (yes, even a tape measure was used and we established there was 1cm to spare on either side). When it finally came to executing the plan it all went swimmingly, with a slight adjustment part way to transfer the head torch from one person to the other, before safely delivering the trolley to its intended spot on the patio. A quick covering over with a builders sack salvaged from the skip and the job was done and dusted.

We look forward to lighter and warmer evenings when we hope to return to help with the front garden tidy up.

2 Goodgymers returned to Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick to finish off cutting back and clearing the front garden area ready for the winter.

All the tools were ready and waiting when we arrived at Lord Leycester so we set straight to work, picking up where we left off after our last community mission here in August. Where we had cleared lots of plants back last time, there was an unexpected surprise as the extra light had encouraged lots of crocuses to come up which were looking lovely (if now a little past their best).

Poppies and roses that were now done for the year were cut back, along with some lovely smelling lavender that was now overhanging the edge of the car park.

We had a quick half way tea break and unfortunately it was then time to use our trusty head torches for the first time since the summer, as it was getting too dark to see where we were cutting :-(

With two garden waste wheelie bins full and all the tools packed away it was a job well done before our run back to St Nicks. Struggling for motivation in the cold and dark we thought we would try some speed walking to much hilarity. Races then ensued with one person speed walking and the other jogging to see which method was quickest, although regular stops were required due to fit of giggles getting the better of us! Perhaps this will have to form part of our weekly GoodGym workout over the winter months :-)

2 Goodgymers returned to Lord Leycester Hospital to help with maintaining their beautiful gardens.

Today's task was to tidy up a walled garden at the front of the medieval buildings which is visible from the road. It obviously looked blooming at some point over the past few weeks as there were lots of dried out flower heads that were now looking a bit sorry for themselves.

Katherine started by cutting back the dried out columbine plants and crocosmia while Nigel set to work trimming back a Yew tree hedge and the other larger shrubs.

We were very well looked after with two offers of cups of tea :-)

Unfortunately we didn't have time to fully complete the area but it certainly looked a lot tidier when we left and can hopefully return again soon to get the job done.

3 Goodgymers returned to Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick to help with maintaining the beautiful garden.

After a short but rather warm jog from St Nick's Park, we arrived to a lovely note from the Master explaining our task for the evening. With a particular area of the garden earmarked as our task, we set to work.

We started by clearing some of the poppies and other flowering plants that had now finished their flowering and had gone to seed. Once these were cut back, it revealed some weeds underneath so Nigel got going with digging over the area with the spade. James tried his handywork on the box hedge giving it a bit of a haircut and Katherine tried to untangle some bindweed from the other plants that were yet to flower.

After a good 45 minutes of gardening, it was time to down tools ensuring all the cuttings were put into the green waste wheelie bins. There was mild panic as we couldn't find one pair of secateurs until Nigel admitted he may have left them in a pile of cuttings, but James saved the day by fishing them out of the wheelie bin - phew!

It was then a short jog back to St Nick's before doing a loop of the park, with lots of paddle boarders on the River Leam prompting stories of James's paddle boarding exploits.

We look forward to coming back to help some more with Lord Leycester's garden in a couple of weeks.

3 Goodgymers returned to the beautiful Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick to help with maintenance of their gardens.

After a short jog from St Nick's park we arrived at the Master's House to see just how much everything in the garden had grown since our last visit. We were tasked with tidying a particular border which contained lots of flowers that had now gone to seed, as well as its fair share of weeds.

We set to work with secateurs, trowels and rakes cutting back the "Granny's Bonnets" and Herb Robert that had taken over the other plants.

The Euphorbia was given a haircut along with other shurbs and trees in the border and any rogue self-seeding baby plants were dug up. Rain threatened overhead but thankfully it stayed dry throughout so that we could enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

With the border looking tidier and the tools collected up, we headed back to St Nicks, taking a slight detour to take in some of Warwick's other historic buildings including a great view of the castle.

Thanks to Allan for being master photographer this evening - in a setting as beautiful as this who can fail to be inspired to take pictures :-)

2 Goodgymers returned to Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick this afternoon to help with maintaining the beautiful gardens.

Having been to Lord Leycester a number of times before for other tasks, little did we know there was a spectacular secret garden hidden away at the back of the building - a little oasis in the middle of Warwick town.

Upon arrival we were tasked with clearing and cutting back one of the borders where a number of hellebores and bluebells had now finished flowering. Cutting these plants back helped to tidy up the border and will give other plants a chance to thrive. We also dug up lots of green alkanet which had run riot and started to take over. The elderflower and huge rose bush also needed a hair cut.

We were able to recharge our batteries part way through with a much appreciated cup of tea in these beautiful surroundings. Then back to work to finish off clearing the border and chopping everything up so that it would fit into the green waste bins and compost piles. With the green waste bins full there was time for a quick wander around the stunning outdoor space, taking in the incredible magnolia trees before heading off.

It felt a real privilege to be able to enjoy and help to maintain these magnificent gardens at a time when they are currently closed to the public due to the building renovations taking place this year. Looking forward to the next time!