Well it was an hedgucation for me tonight as it was my first time leading a group run without Mark's supervision but luckily I had 12 awesome GoodGymmers to rely on for moral support. After a run down of our favourite ice creams (why do other countries always have cooler flavours than the UK?!) we made our way to Alexandra Recreation Ground to meet Linda and the other Friends of the Parks volunteers.

Big shout out to Hannah for leading the walking group, Stephen for backmarking the runners and Jing who was attending her first session and bravely accepted the challenge of running the long way round up the hill to the task!

Once we got to the park, Gill and Linda had us pulling out weeds that were diverting nutrients from the hedge saplings planted earlier in the year. Many hands made light work of this task and we had cleared most of the bed within 40 minutes before taking the shorter route back to the Bridge House for some post-run stretches.

Nice work team!

It was all go in Alexandra recreation ground ahead of the Music in the Park event as, with lightening speed, we worked to set up five gazebos, then arranged tables, chairs and ingredients for the Pimms and homemade cakes stalls. Our cheerful GoodGym team joined in alongside volunteers from the Friends group, soaking up the summer vibe and putting into use some excellent fruit chopping skills! The event was a resounding success, raising £1100 which will help with projects to care for and improve this popular green space.

The GoodGym team braved some rain and drizzle to get down to Kendall Lodge in Bromley to help dig up some weeds, unneeded flowers and create a newly formed flowerbed that will no doubt look lovely in a few months. Fun was had with wheelbarrows, spades and shovels as we helped Mike dig up the areas he needed all whilst having fun doing it.

Fresh off the back of England's defeat at the Euros, our incredible nine-up were shaking off the blues with a good deed for Penge's Salvation Army.

It was lovely to have Charlie back from injury, but very sad to be saying farewell to Nick who is headed off to tread new ground.

We kicked off with our top players from the match. I agree with Kelsey and Catherine that Jonny Longlegs was on top form. Then we split in two.

Cat led the run there crew whilst Charlie, Hannah and I took a stroll to the Sally Army building.

We were met by Becky who had tools and bags-a-plenty, and a jungle of burr-covered weeds to tackle.

Harry took a corner. Clare took our breath away (literally, with mozzie spray). And Catherine dismantled a wee tree - no way it can come back from that.

The rain was due to pour, but fortunately we played a blinder and managed to finish in half-time.

What a team!

We promptly followed this up with a celebratory beverage in honour of Nick.

For tonight's task we headed to the delightful Betts Park, home of the last remaining section of the Croydon canal and a lovely new obelisk "dedicated to all the people who never get memorialised".

A few weeks back the council did some work chopping down some dying trees but they just left a couple of piles of logs and ivy. Our job was to sort the logs from the ivy, building up the "compost heap" and leaving the logs - maybe they will be a path edge one day?!

It turned out ivy was stubborn as hell but we did manage to free it all from the big logs eventually 💪

Whilst all this was happening, Molly was on a solo mission to de-weed the entrance to the shed - I hope those splinters have come out?!

Lovely stuff everyone, and I can't wait for our knowledge exchange event! 🙌