Sometimes the smallest teams make the biggest difference, and that was certainly true on this beautiful summer evening.

John, Belinda and I, together with my ever-faithful litter-picking sidekick Hudson 🐾, were delighted to welcome our newest GoodGym recruit – six-week-old Diago! Although he was a little young to wield a litter picker, he supervised proceedings brilliantly while enjoying his second GoodGym adventure with Mum and Dad, Sarah and Ryan.

Our mission took us around one of our favourite local beauty spots, which sadly seems to attract its fair share of litter. Armed with grabbers, gloves and plenty of conversation, we soon got to work, catching up as we combed the area.

By the time we'd finished, we'd filled three bags to bursting point – so full they were almost too heavy to carry! While it's disappointing to see so much rubbish in such a lovely place, it's always satisfying knowing we've left it looking that little bit cleaner for everyone to enjoy.

With the sun shining, the sea sparkling and the wind doing its very best to rearrange our hairstyles, we strolled (or, in some cases, jogged!) back along the seafront, feeling grateful for good company, wagging tails, new friendships and another small but mighty GoodGym mission accomplished.

What a glorious evening for one of our favourite summer traditions – a beach litter pick followed by a well-earned picnic social on the green.

With the sun shining and barely a breath of wind (a rare treat so close to the sea!), we gathered on the prom before splitting into three teams. One group headed east towards Anchor Gardens, another swept west around the beach by the pier, while I took on watering duties for our much-loved seafront flower bed, making sure our blooms stay as blooming as possible in this drought !

Forty-five minutes later we reunited, blue bags in hand. Happily, they weren't bursting at the seams this time. Compared with previous visits, there was a reassuringly small amount of rubbish collected, leaving us wondering whether beachgoers are becoming better at taking their litter home, or whether another litter-picking hero had beaten us to it. Either way, we'll happily take that as a win!

With the hard work done, it was time to claim a sunny spot on the grass, unpack the picnics and enjoy an evening of good food, great company and plenty of laughter.

We were also delighted to welcome some very special visitors as Sarah and Ryan stopped by with their beautiful newborn son, Diago. It was lovely to meet the newest (and definitely youngest!) member of the extended GoodGym family.

The celebrations didn't stop there. A huge congratulations to Ricky, who had not one but several incredible milestones to celebrate. Alongside completing his 200th GoodGym task, he's also achieved the astonishing feat of running 250 parkruns at 200 different venues. That's some serious tourism powered entirely by trainers!

As the sun slowly drifted lower and conversations carried on , it was a lovely reminder that GoodGym isn't just about doing good—it's about the friendships, the community and the moments we share along the way.

Another cracking evening where we left the beach a little cleaner, watered the flowers, celebrated a remarkable achievement and made some wonderful summer memories. You could say it was litter-ally the perfect way to spend a warm summer evening!

We even got a fleeting guest appearance by Mr John Robinson and Mr Nick Gleeson 😳

After what felt like a very long winter break, tonight marked our triumphant return to the Heene Church Rooms garden that we last visited way back at the end of October. And oh, how it had missed us… or perhaps more accurately, how the weeds had thrived without us!

Thanks to an exceptionally wet winter paired with surprisingly mild temperatures, the garden had turned into a full-on jungle. Tonight’s mission? Nothing short of a major weed-busting operation.

The good news: the evenings are officially on our side again! It was still light at 6pm when we arrived, and stayed that way right through to our 7pm finish — a sure sign that spring (and GoodGym gardening season) is well and truly back.

Our brilliant team tonight brought both energy and excellent chat. Soon-to-be parents Sarah and Ryan were on top form, with Sarah proudly showcasing her impressive 6-month baby bump whilst Barbara turned heads with a stunnnew hairstyle, adding a touch of glam to the gardening gloves.

Fresh from soaking up the sun in Gran Canaria, Belinda and John arrived glowing , proof, if ever needed, that a bit of winter sun does wonders. It was also fantastic to welcome Gill, who cycled in like an absolute hero, and Ricky, who kept us all guessing with hints of his upcoming top secret holiday.

Between the catching up, laughter, and a bit of gentle speculation about Ricky’s mysterious getaway, we somehow managed to make a serious dent in the wilderness. Beds were cleared, weeds were banished, and order was (partially!) restored.

A joyful return, a cracking team effort, and lighter evenings ahead — what more could we want? 🌱

Goring Gap Gets the GoodGym Glow-Up!

Our 3rd Sunday litter pick at Goring Gap brought out some absolute legends. Huge shoutout to stalwarts John, Belinda and Ricky, who have now achieved a perfect 3/3 attendance record – talk about rubbish commitment… in the best possible way!

It was also a delightful surprise to welcome Tamsin and Jemima back to GoodGym – we’ve missed you! We were equally thrilled to be joined by parents-to-be Sarah and Ryan, who proved that teamwork really does start early.

In just under an hour, the team tackled the area with gusto. We climbed in and out of ditches, navigated grassy verges, and patrolled the roadside where litter had been carelessly strewn across this beautiful natural spot. Armed with litter pickers, bags, and plenty of determination, the group made a noticeable difference – proving once again that many hands make light work… and lighter litter loads.

All that hard work deserved a proper reward, so the session finished with frothy hot chocolates, tea, coffee, and a selection of sweet treats back at mine. We rounded things off with a lovely, relaxed chat covering a whole range of topics, giving everyone a chance to catch up and unwind after our environmental efforts.

Same time next month? Let’s keep refuse-ing to let rubbish spoil this gorgeous part of the world!