Well done to everyone who helped tidy their streets and parks; we've had a good run of January Friday litter picks. Feels like we could keep going though, judging by the amount of litter we all seem to find, wherever we are...

No despair though. The Power of One is not to be underestimated! We keep doing our part, things will improve!

We've had an overwhelming response to the call to donate to the local FoodShare, while out running or walking or cycling! So much so that I was inspired to write a little poem... and that is big, given that last time I tried, you could say it was under duress - school homework. * Well done everyone, amazing work! * Here we go, verses are mainly mine, but ran it under ChatGPT for a bit of refinement.

• We run, we walk, We skip, we hop, With bags of goodies—plop plop plop! At the Foodshare collection point we land, Lending a very helpful hand.
• Well done to you, you GoodGym lot, Every tin and packet means a lot. People will love the food, we hope, Fuelled by kindness, carbs, and hope.
• With lovely bright pics in the report on show, For all to smile at, cheer, and know— That a jog, a snap, a small kind deed, Can help a whole community feed.

🥫🏃‍♀️💛

Inspired by Sheila's very Ghostbusters-esq photo, I present to you, the... Litter Busters! (thanks ChatGPT)

Trash on the sidewalk, bottles by the wall,

Wrappers in the bushes, having a ball?

Grab your bag and gloves, stand proud and tall,

Who you gonna call? Litter Busters!

From parks to lanes, streets big and small,

We clean it together, answering the call.

Making spaces better for one and for all,

Who you gonna call? Litter Busters! 🧹✨

10 GoodGymers helped clean up local streets and parks in lieu of GivingTuesday which is on 2nd December this year. GivingTuesday is a global movement that unleashes the power of generosity around the world — a day that encourages people to do good. While we are no strangers to doing good, GivingTuesday is always a good excuse to list a litter pick!

Sheila, Tessa, Kay, Kanika and Diya met at the Community Centre on a cold but sunny morning. We fanned out in different directions for maximum coverage. Jess joined in bringing her own litter pick. Georgeta, Angela, Viv (with Flora the dog) and Jen did their bit around their homes. 

There are 10 big bags less of litter on the streets of Maidenhead. Thanks team! 

Diya made an early start at the community allotment and was already hard at work when Sheila and Kay arrived. Diya cleared the bed of peppers, taking them to the composting area while Sheila and Kay cut plastic to cover the bed. We dug some well-rotted manure out of the bay (even Diya admitted it smelt sweet - well, almost!), which we spread on the bed and covered with the plastic sheets. We were joined at the manure bin and pepper bed by a very friendly robin, looking for any tasty treats we had uncovered, and there were certainly plenty of worms! As Diya went off to her yoga class, we weeded around the new figs