Due to a task cancellation and the hot weather, we opted for a relaxed litter pick in a nearby, leafy, litter hotspot.

We filled two big bags with litter, Andy smashed a wine bottle, whilst he and Joel picked some rather sharp blackberries.

Philosophical ponderings this week were on the sun protection status of butterflies.

It was Jane's 50th task, so we all congratulated her on her imminent black GG t-shirt 👏

Next task is TBC (possibly another litter pick if it's hot), and then on the 12th we are at Beaulieu Community Centre.

Litter picking round Chelmsford with GoodGymers - what better way to spend your birthday?

I met with Rich, Andy, Laurie, Ben, Erin and Joel (henceforth JJ) at HQ. We started with the usual run brief, and for the first time ever, "Are there any illnesses, injuries, or pregnancies?" was answered with a "Yes". Congratulations to Erin & James.

We ran to the old Iceland shop, where we met Sallyann and late sign up Martin, who was able to join us after finishing work in time.

Rich, Laurie, Andy, and I started on the grass verge by the roundabout. There were lots of food wrappers we think had been thrown from cars. Meanwhile, Erin, Sallyann, Martin, JJ and Ben found a grot spot near a bench used by drinkers; the bushes were full of bottles, cans and cigarette butts. Sallyann took the heaviest bottles round to the bin.

We found an abandoned shopping trolley filled with rubbish (which has been reported to the Council), then went behind the car park, where there was more litter in the bushes. In a very short distance, we had collected three bags full, which were left for the Street Care team to pick up.

Back at HQ there were birthday cakes for everyone, and then some of us went to the pub for a post-task pint, and to watch some Morris dancing. Good work everyone.

Next week we are doing a deep clean in the kitchen at Sanctus.

Who wanted to watch England play in the World Cup anyway?! Not us. When we set off England were 1-0 down, but on our run to the task we heard a loud roar, and Ben ducked into The Wheatsheaf to check that, yes, England had equalised.

The lovely garden at Hearing Help needed weeding, especially the lawn, which was a bit of a jungle. Rich and Jess got the tools out, and after a quick safety briefing of DON'T GO NEAR THE HEMLOCK! we started pulling up weeds.

Another loud roar soon told us that England was now 2-1 up.

Ben and Martin got straight on it, I was distracted by a low flying kestrel but eventually put my bird app away and started work.

Fay and Sallyann arrived on foot, and together we filled a big rubble bag with weeds, and left a nice patch of cleared lawn for Hearing Help to enjoy.

We had nearly finished when Andy turned up. He's settling into retirement so well he's forgotten what time it is.

When the tools were away, we watched the house martins flying round the mill, and went home to watch the highlights.

Ten GoodGymers managed not to melt while helping look after the community garden in Broomfield. Nine of us arrived in the heat to find Jess already slaving away at our mission of moving a tonne of bark and watering the flower beds. Sallyann, Joel, Richard, Jess and Laurie were soon shovelling the wood chippings into buckets, while Andy, Rich, Leanne, Ben and Martin spread it over the ground and watered the plants. By the time we finished the smouldering mound of bark had been reduced to a mere mole hill. Well done everyone!