Always a giant pleasure to help tend Ladywell’s Tiny Forest, especially now the miraculous results of the Miyawaki method of planting are becoming clearer with each month of leafy growth. Thanks to deep decompaction of the soil and dense planting, native saplings that were just slender stems last May are today up to 3 metres tall! Regular weeding is an important task to ensure the 800 trees continue to get the light and nutrients they need to flourish throughout the growing season, so GoodGymers Kim, Khai and Linda joined the community treekeepers for an evening session of cheerful chopping, tidying and bindweed untangling to keep the forest in top condition. Excellent work everyone!

Well it was an hedgucation for me tonight as it was my first time leading a group run without Mark's supervision but luckily I had 12 awesome GoodGymmers to rely on for moral support. After a run down of our favourite ice creams (why do other countries always have cooler flavours than the UK?!) we made our way to Alexandra Recreation Ground to meet Linda and the other Friends of the Parks volunteers.

Big shout out to Hannah for leading the walking group, Stephen for backmarking the runners and Jing who was attending her first session and bravely accepted the challenge of running the long way round up the hill to the task!

Once we got to the park, Gill and Linda had us pulling out weeds that were diverting nutrients from the hedge saplings planted earlier in the year. Many hands made light work of this task and we had cleared most of the bed within 40 minutes before taking the shorter route back to the Bridge House for some post-run stretches.

Nice work team!

It was all go in Alexandra recreation ground ahead of the Music in the Park event as, with lightening speed, we worked to set up five gazebos, then arranged tables, chairs and ingredients for the Pimms and homemade cakes stalls. Our cheerful GoodGym team joined in alongside volunteers from the Friends group, soaking up the summer vibe and putting into use some excellent fruit chopping skills! The event was a resounding success, raising £1100 which will help with projects to care for and improve this popular green space.