Today's task owner was feeling a little under the weather, but heroically came up with an alternative plan for our group: giving the parklet on Gladstone Avenue a bit of TLC.

It was lovely to meet newcomer Henriana and also to welcome Jessie back from her travels in South America. Sarah selflessly handed her gardening gloves over to Henriana so she could pick up discarded dog poo bags while Sarah took photos for the run report.

Armed with two Veolia sweeper bags, the team quickly organised to put recycling (beer cans, energy drink bottles) in one bag and general waste (dog poo, dirty cardboard) in the other. "Why are we doing this when Veolia is going to collect it all as general waste?" Sarah mused. "Because I can take it home and put it in my bin" Dave said. Then Yann pointed out that he lived only a couple of if minutes' walk away and also had a recycling bin. Problem solved!

A lot of the litter tonight was in planters that sadly don't contain any plants or soil any more. Paul and Dave put their heads together and came up with a solution: attaching some mesh across the opening of one of the planters. Paul ran home for the mesh and screws, before making short work of attaching the mesh across the planter.

Finishing with loads of time to spare, Latoya suggested a round of Sallies to round off the evening. There was unanimous agreement to this suggestion from unsuspecting newcomers and seasoned Goodgymmers alike. Hazing ritual complete, Sarah declared tonight's task officially over.

On a very balmy evening Sarah met Yann and Dave at Blue House Yard, for a very gentle run to Harmony Gardens, where we met Paul, Ed and task owner Mike.

Mike explained our task was to give some very thirsty trees a big drink. He had already filled various bottles, watering cans and a giant Camelbak-style bottle and had them lined up in wheelbarrows and a rickety cart waiting to go.

So we proceeded around the Rec to various trees that needed a boost - serving doubles ) double watering cans that is) to each. We also got stuck in to mulching some of the trees with cardboard and woodchip.

About halfway through it was lovely to see Niamh who had turned up to Harmony Gardens but was guided across the Rec by our voices and our vibrant red t-shirts.

Our work done, some of us then visited the pond in Harmony Gardens to spot frogs and a rather magnificent dragonfly, before heading off to slake our own thirst.

We are back at Harmony Gardens next month - let's hope the drought breaks before then!