Tonight we had a lovely big group who all headed to Meanwood Valley Farm to help the team with a variety of jobs. The main job was to prepare a large area ready for tomato plants. Apparently they need soft ground, up to 50cm deep in order to thrive which was good to know, as I prepare to plant my own in the coming days. We used a large variety of tools including a wheel hoe which was very satisfying to use! This area is now ready for the plants to go in.

Our resident compost turners did their work as usual, Rachel & Helen always volunteer for this smelly job & Shannen joined them tonight, thanks ladies :)

As we always do, we got sent away with a variety of organic veggies including beetroot, radishes & rhubarb. Delicious!

Welcome to newcomers Billy & Katie, we hope to see you again soon.

Great work team!

This evening we headed up to Bedford Fields to help out them & Community Streets. Lydia, Helen & I lined planters, Jason, Alice & Jake put posts in & levelled the ground & Analise, Joao & Erica did some wriggling at front! Apparently, it's a good workout!

Great work team!

Tonight was our spring social & what great weather for it!

We ran straight to OWLS allotments where we spent around 40 minutes weeding & moving compost. We worked fast so that we could get to the park for our game of rounders. We got into two teams of 9/10 people & started the game. I don't think we 100% stuck to the rules but no one cares, we just have fun with it! We all had 3 bats each & I'm proud to say our team won with a score of 10 & a half to 8 & a half rounders. Well done gang!

We then headed to the pub for food & drinks. Poor Shannen got asked for ID so couldn't buy her alcohol free beer (yes really)...I'd take it is a compliment Shannen!

Welcome to Lydia on her first session, we hope to see you again soon. Thanks also to Erica for bringing everyone she knows to GoodGym:)

Thanks for a great evening all!

This evening’s GoodGym task was a really special one, as we celebrated our 3rd birthday back at Aldermoor Farm, the very place where GoodGym Southampton began three years ago! Before we even lifted a tool, Ellie was busy dishing out birthday headwear. Bunny ears, birthday hats, tiaras and even a chicken were among the options, all enthusiastically (?) worn by the group. We paused for a group photo holding a birthday banner, making it clear from the outset that this was a special evening for us all.

We had a fantastic turnout and a real mix of GoodGymers, which made the evening even more meaningful. It was lovely to see Hannah, Lauren and Derek, who we hadn’t seen for a while and also to have people who have only started their GoodGym journey this year with us, alongside members who have been with us right from the beginning — a brilliant reminder of how welcoming and supportive GoodGym is. We also welcomed Jason from GoodGym Leeds, who happened to be visiting Southampton and decided to enjoy a spot of GoodGym tourism while he was here.

We had been set a task to cut back the big hedges which had become very overgrown, along with removing the sycamores, pruning the willow, cutting back plants to widen the paths and litter‑picking outside the farm. Just as we had started, we were joined by a journalist from the Daily Echo, who had come along to find out more about what GoodGym is all about. Wilson and Ellie both happily chatted away about how wonderful GoodGym Southampton is, while other members shared their own GoodGym journeys and what being part of the group means to them.

The task was completed and the area we had cut backed looked much better. Then to make the celebration complete, Ellie treated us all to cake. It was a perfect way to end a brilliant evening.

I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the last three years. We really are a wonderful team of beautiful people, all happy to give back and support the community around us. Fingers crossed that when we make the front page, that message comes across loud and clear (though not sure the wacky headwear will help - just glad i wasn't a chicken 🐔)