Tonight we headed to a brand new GoodGym location - Cuttleslowe Greenhouse. This lovely community space helps people connect with nature, food, and each other. After being closed for a few years, it’s finally being brought back to life. On a bright spring evening, we got to play a part in its reopening.

Our task definitely leaned toward the gym side of GoodGym. We shifted heavy piles of garden waste across the site, including some very large branches. Over the evening we experimented with every possible method - wheelie‑bin shuttles, dragging or carrying sacks, and even the occasional overhead branch lift. We also rescued some compost to be reused in the greenhouse’s raised beds. Before heading home, we picked up some great souvenirs: postcards about the project and packets of seeds to grow at home. Among the gifted seeds were peas, calendula, and basil.

We’re already looking forward to returning to the greenhouses in future tasks!

Welcome to Goodgym Jacqueline! We're so happy you could join us this evening!

It was a beautiful Saturday morning for the second GoodGym visit to Denny Gardens. A local resident has taken ownership of one of the plots and has planted strawberries and a pear tree. Meg hopes that this will be the inspiration that the neighbourhood needs to start clearing, digging and planting the rest of the site. Mimi (Emmanuelle) and I dug an edging strip on the adjacent plot while Meg tackled the brambles. The recent dry spell has left the ground really hard and the ever present bramble roots make for tough digging. Pulling back the plastic, we uncovered a couple of slow worms. After a quick photo, we covered them over to resume their slumber. We were joined for a while by local city councillor, Tiago Corais and his canvassing supporter, Connor. Slow (worm) progress, but a satisfying session nonetheless 🪱

What's your favorite dinosaur?? This is surely how all Goodgym tasks should start!

This evening we shouldered our litter pickers and bags and headed to one of our most notorious grot spots to give it a flash-mob tidy.

Notable finds this week include a mini neon coloured litter picker, garden rubble (reported to the council), a teeny tiny toothbrush and a pair of insoles. Chat ranged from favorite old school snacks (Sunmaid raisins and club chocolate bars) and what classic novels/plays should be adapted for TV/film next.

It was a hard task to leave litter which we could see through the Nature Reserve fence but we'll be back there in about 10 days time to help tidy up the other side of the fence!

Good work team!