In a very different Community Mission, we met with other volunteers and task owners Ken and Philip at Richmond Bridge, just as night was about to fall. First timers Immi, Ollie and Charlotte joined us for this special task.

Our mission was to survey bats. We were taken through an introduction to the task, given bat detectors and shown how to identify one key species of bat each over the course of the night.

As a group we then followed our bat leaders to survey both sides of the River Thames for 2km upriver of Richmond Bridge. We stopped every 100m for two minutes to listen for our target bat species calls on our detectors.

As the sunset and it got dark, we were soon counting bats left, right and centre. We easily identified six species of bats and we counted several hundred in just over 40 minutes of surveying. The data was all recorded and will be verified later for publication by the Bat Conservation Trust. This data helps to learn more about how we can protect these incredible mammals. It is a scientific study which adds a whole new talent to our GoodGym skills! We also learned that one bat can eat over 1,000 mosquitoes in a night, they work hard too!

Ken and Philip thanked us all at the end and we went on our own way into the night, wondering how many bats were flying around that we never seem to see.

There's a bank holiday sort out, and then there is a Bank Holiday Big Help Out!

With the weather awarding us a Royal Pardon, we enjoyed a fabulous task at our two sponsored riverside plots in Richmond-upon-Thames, at Buccleuch Gardens. Pre-task a group took a run together, doing laps around the area at a variety of paces. On the last lap, the group met with the gents and ladies-in-waiting back at the Arcade area where our crown jewels/tools are stored.

After an introduction by the town crier/Liz, the reigning Queen of the Arcade, Task owner Anita appeared to deliver task information to the waiting masses. Amongst them, six wonderful visiting royals who were joining for the first time as part of the Big Help Out event: Amy, Ricky, Athina, Boon, Linda and David.

Royal duties included:

• A massive weed attack focusing on getting rid of Common Hog Weed and Dandelions in the Plot and clearing weeds from around the River Steps, lamppost and Apartment wall.

• A princely sum of weeds filled the trugs and were bagged up for the Richmond Landscape Contractors.

• Green waste was collected on the trampoline and moved to the compost heap, where it is next in line to become useful soil in the future!

• Weeding Teams transformed the Canarian Palm planters, the hard standing (paths, brickwork, paving), the rockery and the lawn.

• Kate brought new terracotta crocs for the Three Pigeons insect hotel for a room upgrade fit for a princess!

• The Arcade had a bit of a Coronation makeover with Union Jacks and a hastily painted ‘Big Help Out’ sign repurposed from a Street Party road closure, as well as a clean sweep inside in case the reign came later!

• Black markers were used, not on pages, but to cleverly camouflage graffiti in the area.

The task was completed with a Royal Banquet/picnic on the Arcade Lawn, with homebaked scones by James, homemade king of dips (hummus) and a variety of snacks from Salwa and countless other contributions to the feast.

With 24 people working for an hour and a half, that's a truly Happy & Glorious 36 hours of volunteering completed in one social, active and fun afternoon.

Gilded carriages/bikes/feet sent Happy GoodGymmers home victorious!

We weren't able to complete the willow weaving task but we will be back at the gardens on Monday 12th June and everyone is welcome to join us: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/gardening-at-goodgym-sponsored-riverside-three-pigeons-plot-and-monthly-social-drinks

We really do go ahead come rain or shine, as proven at this week's Group Run. Even the intro at the Tap Tavern was enough to get pretty soaked!

Despite all the extra hydration, four plucky GoodGymers headed to the unusually quiet river path and jogged to Petersham & Ham Sea Scouts. It's one of our prettiest run routes and even in the rain we appreciated the views.

At the Scouts, task owner Russell took us through the active jobs in store. This was truly an alternative to a gym workout with digging, lifting, carrying, pulling and movement involved!

While Ken and Anita set about drainage digging, the other six started loading up a trolley to transport logs from one side of the site to the other. On the return journey there were doors and old fence panels that needed taking back to the other side! It took a few trips which gave plenty of opportunity for everyone to get involved with the lifting, pulling and pushing!

A final run back to the Tap, along with input from Lucy's endless imagination for puns, finished off the task well to complete just short of 5km jogging in total.