The first day of November 2025 didn't feel like mid-autumn at all, with the blue skies and warm sunshine welcoming us at Horsenden Farm. Apart from the yellow and orange leaves on the trees, the Halloween-themed craft market stalls that suddenly appeared at the farmyard were a gentle reminder of which season we were in.

The day was supposed to be a big milestone for the Horsenden cows, particularly for the young ones. The farm kept five rare-breed Shetland cows: three adults and two calves born this year. The eight-month-old baby cow and baby bull were to be weaned in the evening, so the task owner, Elsa, asked us for help in preparing the calves' new room in the barn, right next to their mum, but behind a barrier to discourage sucking.

Afshin and Penny came prepared with their own wellies, so they were ready to give the slightly mucky job a go. Simon joined them in moving straw bales into a trailer and hay bales into the space created after removing the straw. As a result, a spacious bedroom has been created for the calves.

In the meantime, Christos, Diana, Gaby, Victoria, Sevan, Kash, and a new Horsenden volunteer, Sam, rolled or carried the scattered logs onto a single neat pile, following Elsa's safety advice.

We don't want any logs or bodies in the ditch.

Everyone was cautious not to trip over or strain their backs when lifting, so all seven happy volunteers marched up the hill for their final task: a bramble bash! The seemingly never-ending effort of cutting back massive patches of blackberries with slashers, shears and loppers was slowly paying off with reclaimed meadow space. The reestablished grassland will be seeded with wildflowers and become a new grazing area for cows.

Speaking of grazing, after the task, following the GoodGym custom, the team gathered at a bench in a sunny spot to enjoy pizzas, baked goods, coffee or local beer. We are looking forward to keeping the tradition alive next month, even if it may get a little bit colder. If you'd like to join us, sign up for the December Horsenden session! We are hoping to see you there!

I enjoyed unpacking and placing them ready to distribute to the poor and needy I’d also like to thank all those who assisted with nonverbal instctions any Mary’s and at good gym.,They also kept a good eye on any possible risks to safety as I am quite deaf.,I did note however that most things done at church are spoken so it may not the best place to do longer term or paid work.

Each Monday morning, GoodGym lends a hand to the South Ealing Food Cupboard, helping the wonderful volunteers get surplus food sorted and ready for the local community. This week, Diana and Iram were up to the task!

This week’s session felt more like preparing for a tropical brunch buffet than a typical food cupboard shift! There was a bounty of pineapples, coconuts, and enormous watermelons. There were so many huge melons, it required a team effort to move, chop and bag them! As if that wasn’t enough, boxes of croissants, stacks of tin foil, and an avalanche of chicken made their entrance - a good haul indeed.

It was another brilliant morning of teamwork, good vibes, and keeping good food out of the bin and into the hands of people who need it.