Despite a bit of a blustery, windy evening, the team headed back to Longthornton to put the finishing touches on our hoarding masterpiece. When we arrived, the lovely Sarah had already made a head start by outlining some of the images giving us the perfect template to get stuck in.

It was all hands on deck to paint the white of the eyes first, ensuring they had enough time to dry so we could get that vital second coat on. Between the laughs and the gusty weather, we managed to create some beautifully furry edges before finally adding the whiskers here and there. This truly was one of the most rewarding tasks we’ve been asked to tackle. Combining community spirit with a bit of creative flair was a total joy, and the end result is quite something to behold. Longthornton is looking a lot more purr-fect tonight and the team have gained some new skills.

Tonight, the team headed to the Tranquil Garden at Mostyn Gardens for a group session that was anything but sleepy! After a little reshuffling of the job list, we split into teams to tackle a trio of tasks: painting planters, digging to plant new trees, and getting stuck into some serious weeding.

Of course, in true GoodGym style, we got it all done and there was even time to catch up with some regulars that we haven't seen for a while. We also had the pleasure of meeting Brenda, who earned the very important t.shirt, by completing her very first session.

Well done everyone! Next week we are at Raynes Park station and need an idea of numbers in advance (to arrange the soil bags) so sign up if you can make it: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/help-friends-of-raynes-park-station-with-moving-compost-ee5e966b-365c-4536-8ff4-eaffd3e5d078

Had a great time supporting the Merton Friends of the Earth Repair Cafe, assisting with setup and various tasks to ensure the event ran smoothly. It was a brilliant success, with several items including a clock, trousers, and a jacket; successfully repaired and given a new lease on life.

We paired up and headed to Ms D's today for a mission that required some serious teamwork. Our task: clearing overgrown brambles and tidying litter scattered by a resident fox. Faced with piles of cuttings and plenty of pruning, we got stuck in, using the time to catch up and celebrate hitting the 500 good deed mark! Another great session in the books, combining a solid workout with even better company.

This afternoon, we completed our first session supporting the Friends of Longthornton to transform a stretch of hoarding. Faced with a completely blank canvas and a vibrant stash of donated paints - leftover from a nearby mural, we were excited to tackle our first official design contribution in the borough.

With a little prep from our more creative team members, we were quickly chalking up the design and getting stuck in with rollers and brushes. The real challenge was deciding which shades to apply to each panel and mixing and matching our supplies to ensure every inch was covered. It was a fantastic afternoon of teamwork, creativity, and community brightening and we are looking forward to returning to finish it off.

We joined the Merton Garden Streets team and a wonderful group of local volunteers for a high-production potting session.

Establishing several production lines of marigolds, cosmos, and other vibrant seedlings. Pot by pot, we filled each with soil and re-homed numerous seedlingd ready for watering.

There were hands from all across the borough pitching in, so the workload felt light and the atmosphere was incredibly relaxing and sociable. The perfect way to spend a morning - getting stuck into the dirt and helping Merton get ready to bloom.