Only one place to start this report and that is to celebrate our incredible GGer Frances who last night notched up her 600th Good Deed! An absolutely fantastic achievement and it also marks the end (for now!) of Frances' journey with us as she is moving overseas, wishing you all the best and you will be sorely missed. 🤩

And so it was that we took a bumper group of runners including first time London but longtime GGer Matt from the Oxford group up to Windmill Gardens (ahhh there's the pun reference) to help out Jean and Annick get the park ready for the Winter Fair this weekend. Else thank you for signing up via the website - great to have you come through the MeetUp link and now onto your third run with us.

It was amazing to have so many runners out this time as there was plenty of work to be getting on with so we split into several teams in charge of the following: - A two person litter picker crew - Several people making up the 'raking crew' (1990s WCW reference.... no? Anyone?? Seriously???) - A few people on grabber duty (giant plastic hands for collecting leaves) - Brooms and giant compost bags for the remaining volunteers

We set about raking up millions of wet leaves, trimming the edges of the pathways and building a giant mud pile to dry out and be used for composting.

After a good 50 minutes labour it was time to tidy up and the park was looking much clearer than when we found it - the daylight will give us a better idea though so if you want to help out set up or pack away the Winter Fair head to the links below and get signed up. Then of course make sure you go to and enjoy the Fair itself! https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/help-make-brixton-windmill-s-winter-market-go-with-a-swing-set-up

https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/help-make-brixton-windmill-s-winter-market-go-with-a-swing-set-up-29fce655-c879-405a-a0cc-3bb5deb7e94b

Lastly a reminder that we have our Lambeth Christmas Social coming up on the 19th December so get signed up for that as well: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/litter-pick-bingo-tuesday-s-group-run Thanks all and see you at the next one :0)

Here's tonight's lowdown from Saoirse at Open Orchard:

Yesterday was fantastic, 6 people turned up and they absolutely whizzed through tasks that would have taken us a lot longer. They weeded all around the ornamental garden (I need to get an after photo!), turned the compost (this requires a strong back, of which none of us have so we were very grateful for this!), watered the much needed flowers and did a thorough litter pick.

Great work everyone, sounds like a good time had by all!

A perfect evening for a bit of hard liftin' & shiftin' down at Loughborough Farm so what are we waiting for let's go!

AA Yianny was in a race against traffic to get to Papa's from out of London to drop off the keys with Lambeth Run Leaders Joao taking the group out this eve. In the end I made it and in the end no-one needed to use the hall - standard!

It was great to have Ellie back with us after a while away - she even brough some juicy GG insider info - although the veracity of said info is currently under review (it made us all laugh though!)

This evening's category was favourite childhood character with Billy Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Tony Hawk, Tigger among others that made an appearance.

We had Marie-Noelle and Paul meeting the group down at the Farm and Anthea and her team were there to show the crew what needed doing. Mainly it was shifting the heavy boards from one railway arch to another so that the Farm can complete its' move.

As ever the team got through plenty of work and Anthea was delighted so well done all!

We will be back next week - same time - same place -see you then.

A small group of GGers gathered in the overcast evening to head over an help out at Ruskin Park, we had heard that things were getting out of hand in the fruit cage and set off to investigate.

As promised those of us back at Papa's had the chance to recycle last week's category que which was 'What is your 3rd fave song' and again a nice mix was brought up by the group including the venerable Bill Withers, The Smiths, Warmduscher who played Brockwell Park on the weekend (I had to look them up I confess) and the ever fun Madness!

Will was back for his second GG session so clearly not put off by contentious category ques, and we were joined by Clare and Katie to make the 2.5km easy run across to the far side of the park by Denmark Hill.

With a carefully co-ordinated arrival we met with Paul an Marie-Noelle at the entrance to the community garden and went to see what Justin had for us.

The rumours were well founded and inside the fruit cage it was a tangle of brambles and bindweed and almost impossible to recognise and separate all the lovely budding fruit bushes underneath it all. Our task was simple, trim back the brambles but leave plenty in place to grow the blackberries and dig out all the bindweed we could find as well as a general sprucing up.

Tools were handed out, a massive 1 tonne compost bag was brought and we started filling wheelbarrows full to load into it. 40 mins or so later the cage was transformed and it is fresh and ready for the volunteers of Ruskin Park this weekend to come in and get planting!

Huge thanks to Justin for hosting us and giving out refreshments as well - always a winner for GGers - and we look forward to heading back in a couple of months to see how it is all getting on.

Well done everyone, see you next week!