Six of us set out for tonight's task after a request from a local resident to tackle litter in the area.

With the mist rolling in and visibility low, we were armed with brand new litter pickers, bags, bag holders and hi-viz jackets kindly provided by the Council and got to work.

Starting by Welling's historic cannon, we worked our way along Welling High Street, down into the resident's road, and a few smaller side roads, making sure every stray crisp packet, rogue drinks can and even a lost shoe or two were safely bagged up.

The fog certainly added atmosphere to the evening, and there was a concern we might have not noticed some obvious pieces of rubbish strewn on the floor.

Our fears were allayed however by a message from the resident shortly afterwards thanking us for making such a noticeable difference, leaving the streets looking cleaner and tidier for the community.

Another good evening's work, a bit of exercise, a good chat along the way, and proof that even on the foggiest of nights, a determined group can still make a clear visible difference.

What a buzzing morning at the Community Hospice today, and a warm welcome to Mo for her very first GG task!

Head Gardener Jason kicked things off by showing us the peonies we planted last month. They’re looking strong and healthy; here’s hoping for blooms later this year.

Our main mission was a satisfying round of ‘chop and drop’, cutting back tired growth to make way for fresh spring shoots. Instead of letting the trimmings break down where they fell, we raked and gathered them up and added them to the compost heap elsewhere in the garden.

We also tackled two stubborn rose bushes and a couple of thorny brambles. Deep roots and all, they didn’t give up easily, but neither did we!

With tools put away, flower beds ready to spring into new life and all of us feeling that warm glow that follows hard work in good company we wrapped up with a few team photos, attempting to capture the energy of the morning. Let’s just say our synchronised jump shots need a little work… check out our social media feeds to see the results!

After several hours of very heavy rain indeed, the clouds unexpectedly lifted and the sun even poked through with perfect timing for the Community Litter Pick organised by Welling Station and Discover Welling.

Four of our GoodGymers (Robert prefers not to be in photos) joined the mission to clear litter along a footpath running parallel to platform 2.

And there sure was a lot of litter to clear!

Alongside station staff and two local residents others, we collected loads of bags full.

Star finds included a pair of trousers 👖, an umbrella ☂️, and a MacDonald's staff name badge!

The darkening skies signalled time to call it a day and we headed homeward. Just in time too, as big rain started falling not long after.

Another task well done and definitely time for tea 🫖.

After what felt like approximately 47 straight days of rain (give or take), we were delighted to welcome a very special guest to Saturday’s session in Danson Park… the sun! Honestly, we’re starting to think the sun might be a GoodGymer - it turned up right on time and boosted everyone’s energy levels instantly.

We teamed up with the fantastic Friends of Danson Park for a productive morning tackling overgrown bushes around the park. With bird nesting season just around the corner, it was important to get the cutting back done now, making the area tidier, safer, and ready to flourish in spring, without disturbing any future feathery residents.

Armed with loppers, secateurs and plenty of enthusiasm, we got stuck in. There’s something deeply satisfying about transforming a wild tangle of branches into neat, manageable greenery. And even more satisfying doing it together.

It was one of those sessions that reminds you why community tasks are so brilliant: fresh air, visible impact, good chats, and that smug post-task feeling of 'we did that'.

Huge thanks to everyone who came along and to Friends of Danson Park for having us.

Same again when the sun’s available? 😉

On Sunday, a cheerful crew of GoodGymers headed to a very trashed corner of Blackfen, near the A2 and the Co-op car park, ready to take on… well, far too much rubbish. What followed was part clean-up, part treasure hunt, and part therapy session.

By the end of the mission, we’d collected 12 bags of general rubbish, 3 bags of glass bottles (safely popped into recycling), and—because why not—one sewing machine. Yes. A sewing machine. Sadly, it did not come with instructions or a matching table.

To keep spirits high, we played Litter Picking Bingo, and can proudly say we found everything on the card—and then some. Full house, anyone?

While it’s always a bit heartbreaking to see how careless people can be, every GoodGym session restores our faith in humanity. Because for every fly-tipped sewing machine, there’s a group of volunteers willing to show up, muck in, and make things better—one bag at a time 💛♻️

Blackfen is cleaner, our bingo cards are complete, and humanity is back on the “mostly decent” list. Another good job done! 💪✨