Today was a fantastic session where thirteen GoodGymers from GG Bexley, GG Greenwich and GG Ealing came together to make a real difference at Crossness Pumping Station, built in the 1800s as part of London's first sewage system.

It was lovely to have Dinali and Ian with us for their first GG task, and celebrate Mo's 10th good deed.

We were met by Tom, the museum's Volunteering Manager who, after a warm welcome, split us into two groups.

'Team Ballast' worked with regular volunteer Rob and others on the narrow gauge railway. We dug out a shallow trench under the lifted tracks, and shoveled in ballast stones to help restore the line ready for re-opening to the public.

Rob said that it would have taken one person a whole day to complete what we achieved in just one hour 💥.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the site in the Victorian Formal Garden, 'Team Lavendar' was busy cutting back lavender. It smelled lovely! The cuttings will be used to make bars of soaps, which will be sold in the shop.

For both teams it was amazing to see how much we could accomplish by working together.

After tea and biscuits in the Ness Cafe, we had a brief look at the historical display of toilets in the museum - including one of the first flushing models by Thomas Crapper.

Then we put on hard hats and safety glasses, for Tom's tour of the incredible engine hall, giving the opportunity to learn more about the history and engineering behind this fascinating place.

We certainly put all our senses to work, including experiencing some of the distinctive smells associated with the historic pumping station and its original purpose 💩!

Overall, it was a brilliant opportunity to contribute to the local area, learn about its history and engineering, and make a positive impact through volunteering, and show that when we come together and work as a team, we can achieve so much more than we could alone.

We hope to help out at the museum more regularly from now, on so watch thus space if you'd like to join us!

Our fab four joined the Friends of Lesnes Abbey and Woods this morning for their monthly conservation session.

We joined the regular volunteers on the hike up to the Heath, taking turns to push two wheelbarrows full of tools. It’s nearly 1km mostly all uphill, so we certainly earned our keep before the work had even begun!

At the top, Paul explained that the plan was to cut back anything that wasn’t heather, ultimately giving the heather a chance to reclaim the area.

Piles of bracken, brambles, holly, oak saplings and honeysuckle soon made their way into the wheelbarrows, ready for the composting areas. There was plenty of cutting, clearing and hauling to keep everyone busy.

Once our patch was looking considerably more heather-friendly, it was time to collect up the tools and head back down to the Chestnuts Kiosk for some drinks.

Another great morning of teamwork, conservation and GoodGym fun!

Mo, Samantha, Marjorie joined the Friends of Lesnes Abbey and Woods (FOLAW) for their monthly conservation session yesterday.

This was Marjorie's first ever GoodGym task and here's how she found it...

"My first volunteering session at Lesnes Abbey Woods was a really positive experience. The group was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and respectful, making it easy to get involved and work together.

During the session, we helped remove bracken and wild honeysuckle from the heathland to give the heathers more space and light to thrive, supporting the conservation of this important habitat.

It was very rewarding, and I enjoyed contributing to the local environment alongside such a great team led by Marc from FOLAW".

It's great to have you as part of Team GG Bexley, Marjorie. And well done everyone for your hard work 💚🌿🌱.

Our session at the Community Hospice got off to a brilliant start when Ivar arrived bearing a batch of home-baked solskinnsboller – Norwegian “sunshine buns”. They were absolutely delicious and perfectly suited to the sunny weather 😎.

We were also happy to see Mo wearing her red GoodGym tshirt - definitely part of the team now!

Fortified by our sweet treat, we headed with Jas, the Hospice’s Head Gardener, into the woodland area, where our task was to reclaim a patch of ground from the bracken and brambles that had started to creep back since they were last cleared a year ago.

Thankfully, the shady woodland offered some protection from the sun and we took things steady in the heat. This said, all the crouching, bending and pulling certainly provided a good leg workout!

Our trusty yellow gauntlet gloves proved invaluable as we tackled the thorny brambles and provided Ivar with the perfect inspiration for his pun in the title of this report!

After 75 minutes of ground work, three bulging bags of greenery had been consigned to the compost heap and we were super happy with the transformation.

We really enjoy our monthly visits to the Hospice, helping to keep the peaceful gardens looking their best. And a it's always great way to spend a Saturday morning with good company.

Why not join us next time!

We had a really enjoyable Sunday morning teaming up with the Friends of Lesnes Abbey and Wood.

During the session, we set about clearing a large area of bracken to let the heather thrive. Thankfully, the recent rain made the task easier, as it helped loosen the roots and made removal more effective.

While working, we also had the opportunity to learn more about the woodland and the history of the heath, which made the experience even more interesting and rewarding.

It was great to be part of a group effort contributing to the care and preservation of the environment.

We were very lucky with the weather, which made the morning even more pleasant and allowed us to make good progress with the work.

We'll be back again to help with more woodland conservation on the first Sunday in July. Tasks vary from month to month, so why not join us for a lovely dose of fresh air and active volunteering in beautiful surroundings. Oh, and the coffee from Chestnuts Kiosk is an added treat to round things off!