Four GoodGymers, including the fabulous Laura back for her second ever GG task 🎉, joined the Friends of John Innes Park this morning for their monthly gardening session. With recent rain taking care of the watering, we focused on lavender trimming, alkanet removal - and the highly scientific process of whacking dried poppy heads to help next year's flowers spread their seed.

We'll be back next month for a concerted attack on the bamboo. Until then, we’ll be binge-watching giant panda documentaries as tactical research…

Two GoodGymmers helped brush up history at the Merton Priory Chapter House, helping prepare a community art exhibition inspired by the nearby River Wandle. After tackling at least a year's worth of dust with some determined vacuuming, we laid out refreshments for visitors and then got to enjoy the fruits of our labour - including checking out the beautiful, naturally dyed embroidery contributed by our very own Goodgymmer Jade. Artfully done!

Tonight the team returned to Morley Park to give the Friends group a hand with some serious path reclamation.

Armed with spades and loppers, we tackled a large section where dirt and overgrowth had narrowed the walkway. The rock-hard ground, after a dry summer, had turned digging into a proper full-body workout, including branch-busting and pruning back overhanging trees and bushes.

By the end, we had cleared heaps of soil and debris, fully restoring a wide stretch of path for local park-goers. Who needs a gym membership when there's jobs like this to do? Well done everyone - it's great to be back in action!

Following a swift briefing safely tucked away out of earshot from the main stage, the team set off to support Full Cycle with their community bike ride. The route meandered through the quiet backstreets of Mitcham before entering the greenery of Morden Hall Park, looping back through Ravensbury Park, and taking in the scenic views along the River Wandle.

The group kept a relaxed, enjoyable pace, offering participants a chance to explore a local loop route that was brand new to some riders. It was brilliant to assist with a fresh initiative in Merton, and hopefully this inaugural ride paves the way for many more to come.