After the nail-biting game yesterday at Charlton Athletic, 9 Goodgymers and some friends of CleanUpCharlton ventured out to clear up some of the post-match debris.

While one team tackled the home end of Anchor & Hope Lane, the others took to the midfield of the Woolwich Road to clear the cans, bottles and cigarette ends. The game of two halves ended with a photo line-up at the end of Popeye's Path (formerly Frankie & Benny's Alley) which always needs a good grounds-person or two (or even 11)!

The boys and girls done good and 13 bags were left for the referee (Greenwich Council) at final whistle. Man/woman of the match was awarded to all players in the form of a nice cup of coffee at our favourite M&S cafe (we might tap them for sponsorship next season). They thought it was all over - it is now until next month!

A tragic scene awaited 5 GoodGym-ers as we joined the Friends of Woolwich Common for today's litter pick. A huge area of the common was burned down in a fire earlier in the week, and whilst the exact source of ignition is under much speculation, the dry summer had not helped, leaving much of the area vulnerable.

On a much more positive note, so many areas were unaffected due to the quick work by local fire teams, leaving plenty of space as the haven it is, for wildflowers, wildlife and vegetation of all kinds. So, armed with litterpicks and rubbish bag hoops, a smoky aroma followed us as we set out in various directions, ready to clear as much as we could, Cans, bottles, vapes, plastic, glass, newspapers & crisp bags soon filled up those bags, and nature gave us a little materials science lesson in how various materials burn - or don't, as the case may be, in the areas affected by the fire.

It's not the first fire on this common, but nature also teaches us it will fight back, and as the seasons change, the plant life will gradually begin to take root again, which hopefully we can help with in some small way by clearing away the artificial stuff threatening that growth.

Have a great week & catch up soon! 😊

Eight of us hit the streets last night with purpose, energy, and plenty of good vibes. Our destination? The ever-welcoming Hervey Road Playing Fields. But before we got there, we had a very special delivery to make…

On our way over, we helped spread the word about the upcoming Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre (PPMCC) Community Day, dropping leaflets through letterboxes. It's going to be a fantastic event, and you can sign up to help man the GoodGym stall and soak up the community spirit here.

With the leaflets delivered and our legs nicely warmed up, we headed on to Hervey Road. When we arrived we found Jenny, Ivar, and Annie already hard at work, weeding and pruning back the lavender with impressive focus. The rest of us joined in, tackling a good amount of weeding and bramble-pulling to help get the space looking its best. The combination of teamwork, elbow grease, and a few laughs made for a hugely satisfying session.

Thanks to everyone who came along, until next time!

💥 Coming up this weekend in Greenwich:

🌿 Saturday – Gardening at Mycenae Gardens Join us for a peaceful and productive morning of planting and pruning in this much-loved community space. A perfect way to start the weekend!

🚮 Sunday – Group Run & Litter Pick at Woolwich Common We’re heading out for a run followed by a community litter pick at Woolwich Common. A great way to combine fitness with a bit of environmental impact.

Next Wednesday we're back at the Memorial Hospital for a special session with a bonfire, tea and creative session - don't miss out!