How many GoodGymers do you need to fill two tonne bags with compost, move them, and stack them? Well, depends on how many you’ve got! Even as a small team, the GoodGymers can work magic. Ash, Harvey, Sevan, Steph, and Kash have proven that’s true on a cool Tuesday night, when they ran to Walpole Park to help the ranger and volunteer gardeners move the leftover compost from the community giveaway into the Walled Garden.

After picking up the tools and thoroughly checking that there was no one under the tarp covering the compost pile (it looked very convincing as a homeless person's refuge), the team stuck their shovels into the compost and started loading tonne bags, wheelbarrows, and a trolley. It took three trips to the Walled Garden to deliver nearly two tonnes of compost in bags and top up a raised bed, while carefully avoiding burying the strawberries in it. The team avoided the temptation to split up and do the job even quicker - it’s always better to stick together, as it's safer and more fun!

After a successful session, the GoodGymers locked up the bagged compost, the tools, and even the park, as it was past the time it should be closed for the night. Next week, we give dark parks a break and venture to Acton for a leafletting session to promote free health and fitness activities for women hosted at St Mary’s Church. Sign up now!

As I was in Liverpool for a Movember half marathon, decided that I could add and extra Goodgym area to my portfolio. So Liverpool is my 18th Goodgym area that I have completed either a community mission or a mission at an elderly ot isolated person. After my race and a bit of sight seeing I went to Mr N house to tidy his garden and trim bushes/trees. On arrival, his small bulldog kept barking but was harmless. Mr N didnt have any tools, but I caught do with pulling dead branches and weed. I asked if he had anything to cut the branches and came back with a small saw which I made most of it. So armed with a saw, a wooden plank and brut force, I was able to cut bushes, trees, pick rubbish left by storm Claudia and remove moss(with the plank). He then came with a strimmer which I used to trimm the grass near his entrance. With hardly any tools I was able to achieve a lot and Mr N was happy amd overwhelmed as found out I was a volunteer with out being paid to help out.