We welcomed two brand new GoodGymers this evening - Eleanor and Rodney. They both got stuck in with their first ever task - head to their profile to give them a cheer!

Our introductions took a lot longer than normal as we had so many of us along this evening - the most GoodGymers at a task since before lockdown. Jane from BPA struggled to fit everyone in one photo!

We managed to complete three tasks for the price of one - Team A cleared brambles, nettles and branches to make space for our bug hotel, Team B shovelled two tonnes of soil and delivered it the dipping pond area ready for the planting of the wildflower meadow and Team C took on a litter pick.

This task was also our first task of the autumnal season where we've needed crack out the headtorches. I'm going to miss our long summer evenings!

Fantastic work everyone!

A very warm welcome to Tania at her first Goodgym task today. It was a lovely balmy day today, no sun, but still warm, and lots of autumnal colours around. Today, Judy, Tania and Mel were helping pull out all the old and dead plants from the rectangular beds along the main footpath up from the tunnel entrance. It doesn't seem that long since we planted them all, but with Autumn here, they needed to go. There were lots of tree branches on the ground and carpets of leaves everywhere you looked, including in the beds. We left the leaves there to mulch down as they will make the soil healthier, adding organic matter, and ready for the spring planting in May. Time flew and before we knew it, we'd finished all of the beds and filled 8 grab bags full for composting. Katie and Marcin, our Park Operatives handed out some drinks vouchers for the park cafe and we all sat, drinking and chatting before it was time to get on our way. We look forward to seeing Tania on more Goodgym tasks in the future. A very satisfying task completed. Goodgym will be back at Victoria Park in a couple of weeks, sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/victoria-park-gardening-c42e2d1a-be84-4114-b5fb-b9dd04231a1d if you can come along.

We gave the North End Street Garden a good autumn clean-up - removing 3 sacks of weeds, 2 bags of drinks cans, lots of litter and countless glass bottles.

Another session will be needed for pruning and planting.

Met Katie CR and Tony, and lots of friendly runners, for the non-competitive Sunday 5K or 2K.

A good way to start the day.

Abby and I tidied Mrs M's garden, clearing HUGE sunflowers and abundant tomato plants.

The friendly next door neighbour had happy chickens, and thanked us for helping Mrs M with a gift of fresh eggs, while Mrs M insisted we take tomatoes too.

2 GGers + 2 hours + sunshine = happy client + happy neighbour