We were back at the Vine Road recreation ground in Barnes on a lovely Saturday morning, to lend some help to Christine and team at the Barnes Common Community Growing Project.

The Community Growing Project is a space where people of all ages and abilities come together to grow food. By growing, sowing and learning together, they aim to reduce social isolation, build wellbeing and strengthen community cohesion.

There were several tasks to do, including weeding the beds in the main polytunnel and composting the weeds, moving tables and chairs to make way for an easier walkway through the garden, and tackling the weeds under the vine growing on the perimeter fence.

Everyone got stuck in, enjoying the weather and making a big difference. We finished up in time to have a nice coffee together - half price for volunteers!

Hope to be back helping the team again soon.

5 Goodgymers headed over to the Charity "Missing people", the only UK charity dedicated to supporting missing children and adults, and their loved ones. Packing goodie bags for an event they had planned was the mission. We quickly blitzed through this churning out 118 bags of good things before heading back out into the sunshine for a nice walk back to Richmond. Good to see Steph, and Nina back in the task groove. A fun task !

In preparation for Remembrance Day, we met at the listed war memorial monument at St Mary Magdelene Church in Richmond town centre. Jobs included weeding around the flower bed, clearing any rubbish that had blown in, scraping up grass and moss between the paving slabs and making sure the area is appropriately ready to pay respects to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

A warm and sunny morning greeted us for today’s task at the Vine Road Community Growing Project in Barnes. We met at the polytunnels and shifted a bit of garden furniture before dividing to conquer separate jobs involving compost and mulch. Classic.

The mulchers set about coating the raised beds in some rich organic material to nourish the soil and remaining crops over winter. Meanwhile, the others were busy shovelling and sieving matter from the compost heap to remove larger bits of wood, roots, worms, and more than a few coffee pods, to leave a most pleasing fine and light compost. Lovely.

Most of the group also stopped a little longer to enjoy well-earned coffees and baked treats in the sun from the community café.

Welcome to all those who joined us for the first time, whether from other areas or new to GoodGym. We hope to see you and the friendly bunch at Vine Road again soon.