Another double-digit turnout meant we could divide into three groups to tackle a variety of tasks towards the top of Petersham Common Woods. It's been a regular spot for GoodGym Richmond with our work including maintaining the famous "Turner's View", planting hundreds of new trees and coppicing others to create a denser middle layer in the woods for nesting songbirds.

Today's challenges were slot-planting new thorn trees above the path by the Star and Garter flats. Green-fingered Anita oversaw Victoria, Beth, Sam and newcomer Christina at this, under Ken's instruction to bury them just on the point that the roots end to ensure each young sapling's survival. The guys took to it dilligently with their focus broken only on occasion by a mighty crack from below, where Chris♂ in full lumberjack mode was clearing an area that needed cutting back.

Around the corner Hounslow tearaway Pippa, plus Monika and Maena continued with the coppicing that we started a couple of weeks ago, while task leader Ken supplied Lindor chocolates and coffee, a deserved treat.

Tuesday evening shift at city Harvest in Acton: cleaning crates and adding a bit of shine to the industrial washer after it’s service ; and helping to sort and crate the evening Amazon delivery in the chiller.

Starting at Tap Tavern in Richmond, a walking group led by Liz headed straight over Richmond Bridge at a brisk pace while a running group led by Jack did a warm-up before getting a good 2.5km run to meet at St Christopher's. A very warm welcome to Elidon for the first time!

The group split into three: one to get stuck straight into cutting back hedges at the front of the beautiful building, one to do a running session with Sam to finalise his run leader training and one to head to the back garden for some HIIT training with Liz. All groups put in a brilliant effort then rotated round to take on the next activity. Everyone active, job done and fitness increased, Monday night for the win!

4-8pm Warehouse shift in Acton Park for Food Re-Distribution Charity City Harvest

Evening 4-8pm Warehouse shift at Food Re-Distribution Charity 'City Harvest' in Acton Park

Freezing cycle ride from Richmond so it felt relatively warm in the chiller sorting the evening delivery of surplus/short-dated food from Amazon.

Evening 4-8pm Warehouse shift at Food Re-Distribution Charity 'City Harvest' in Acton Park

There was a fantastic turnout for GoodGym Richmond’s first group run of 2023, visiting Buccleuch Gardens, Richmond where GG Richmond maintain two plots on the Thames Path: The Arcade Rockery and The Three Pigeons Plot.

Walking and running groups set off from outside The Tap Tavern with a rendezvous in front of The Arcade. Expecting gardening, some were initially flummoxed by a request to create a human ‘2023’ but, with great ingenuity, human numerals were created to herald the New Year. To the relief of many, there wasn’t time to try and create a giant Rabbit to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Instead there was plenty of work to be done and plenty of GoodGymers keen to grab trugs, trowels, brooms, forks and brushes and attack an array of winter gardening tasks. At The Arcade small groups worked to turn over the compost heap, rake leaves off the lawn, weed the steps/paving/paths, and recycle all the green waste generated. And at the Three pigeons Plot a small group did a magnificent job clearing weeds from around the river steps as well as sweeping up the leaves around the plot itself.

Back at the Tap Tavern, hard work was rewarded with drinks at the bar for those who could stay for the January Social. A special mention goes to Jarryd who came to try out GoodGym for the first time, to JP who dropped in to say hello on his way home from work with jetlag, to Kate who came to see everyone in the pub for a catch up and to Lucy and Salwa who brought bakes to the pub for everyone!