We were a group of six at City Farm this morning, welcoming Cindy and Daniel to their first task. There was a very long list of jobs on the whiteboard but, in true GG style, we managed to complete nearly all of them. Raking compost, shifting compost, sieving compost, putting compost in pots... After some tea and carrot cake hiding from the sudden rain, we continued with some sterling poop scooping from Chris, planting broccoli, and good-old digging for potatoes. Oh, and there was also a very friendly cat!

If in doubt we'll figure something out!

Nevermind the real GoodGym motto of "Do Good, Get Fit", last night was all about improvising to complete the task. We had been asked to spend our evening giving the Ark-T centre garden a tidy-up, but with the promised tools nowhere to be seen we had to do some rapid re-thinking. Fortunately we all had sturdy gardening gloves, a few of us had brought along some hand tools, and we found a broom (missing it's handle, but we were in no position to be picky!), and so we were able to do a decent amount around the garden.

Lots of weeding was done in the courtyard garden, we cut down 6ft high brambles around the shed, detangled miles of bindweed, and removed ivy from the stone wall. Particular kudos goes to the hardcore GoodGymers who removed large amounts of nettles with nothing but small secateurs and sturdy gloves!

Welcome to GoodGym Sarah, and welcome to GoodGym Oxford Becky.

With thunder and lightning forecast, and GoodGymers dropping like flies with summer colds, we felt very fortunate to muster a dozen or so helpers and to complete our task in sunshine last night.

Our task was a return visit to Dean Court Community Centre to de-weed the courtyard car park. We detangled bindweed, pruned buddleia, litter picked, weeded planters, pulled up nettles, and generally swept and scraped away all the messier elements.

Delighted to be joined by not 1, but 2 enthusiastic GoodGym pups. Always a joy to have Django and Cass in attendance.

Well done on your 50th Good Deed Sophie, and thank you for the yummy cakes.

Welcome to GoodGym Katie!

This evening we returned to the oasis that is Barracks Lane Community Garden. We did the usual Goodgym flashmob effect - trimming back brambles, weeding, sorting plant pots, moving bulky rubbish, sprucing, composting etc etc.

We left the garden looking cleaner and tidier than when we arrived. And we had the splendid treat of not one but TWO dog pals on the task - dogs make everything better.

The main thrust of this report however is to celebrate our area activator; the amazing Anwen.

Today she reached the awesome milestone of 500 good deeds. These include litter picks, foodbank shifts, library and prescription deliveries, race marshalling, gardening, tree care, bulb planting, the list is endless. She also creates a welcoming and safe space for us, allowing us to be ourselves, providing a listening ear when needed or a pep talk! She selflessly makes her community a better place and brings us all along for the ride, for which we are endlessly grateful.

With the help of AI and Katie we have the following ditty in celebration of QUEEN ANWEN.

Anwen, gentle soul,
Spreads kindness with every step,
Good deeds, her heart's goal.
Furry friends adore,
Anwen, a cat person true,
Purrs bring her much joy.
Swift as a gazelle,
Running with grace and power,
500 deeds done.