A small but mighty crew gathered for this week’s GoodGym Tuesday evening spectacular, with a few of us squeezing in a sunny loop around West Ham Park before the main event. Legs warmed and spirits high, we made our way to Barnard Grove to meet Carol — our task owner and the long‑time guardian of the two big planters that she has been maintaining diligently for the last 30 years or so.

The planters had become a bit wild lately, with overgrown greenery and a couple of unwelcome bushes muscling in. Carol gave us the lowdown, we cobbled together an assortment of tools and got stuck in.

The team made quick work of cutting back the messy, overgrown foliage, revealing the shape and structure that had been hiding underneath. Meanwhile, a determined subgroup took on the bush — the stubborn one that clearly had no intention of leaving quietly. After plenty of digging, tugging, and tactical discussion, we admitted we needed reinforcements. Cue a quick dash to the shop, returning triumphantly with an axe and a pry bar like a pair of DIY superheroes.

Armed with the new kit, we gave the bush a fierce battle. It put up a fight, but we made serious progress and left it significantly less smug than when we arrived.

Throughout the evening we got a few encouraging comments from passers‑by, which added a nice boost as we worked. By the end, the planters looked far tidier, Carol was pleased, and we’d earned that satisfied, pleasantly‑tired feeling that only comes from doing good with good people.

Another rewarding GoodGym session — teamwork, fresh air, and a bit of improvised tool‑based problem‑solving. Perfect.