It was back to the Tolworth Recreation Centre on a muggy Tuesday for our regular clean-up of the Kingston Pantry, the area's foodbank. Shelves needed re-arranging and wiping, tackled with enthusiasm by Ben, Hazel, Jana and Rachel while Tom volunteered to don the plastic gloves and separate frozen pastries into small bags. Some rapid hoovering by Claire and we were done.

Susan, who runs the foodbank, is always delighted to see us and even furnished the group with Cadburys Time Outs, which none of us could remember having for ages. A fine reward for a rewarding task.

A good turn out. All 7 goodgymers arrived on bikes, shankis pony, and running. Tonight was a great workout. The area was well and truly deshedded [RIP] in the hope that a new shed finds it's way to Jubilee Square. Also a load of dead foliage was taken to rebuild the hedge.

We were all enthralled last night as Elliot Newton, (that is his real name!) the council’s biodiversity officer, showed as smooth newts in the early stages of life (called an eft) at the community pond and garden we were tasked with helping to maintain.

Four GoodGymers ran almost 3km up the hill from the Quaker Centre while four of the gang met at Vine Close. Two key tasks were set. Luke, Tom and Jana helped to clear the blanket weed in the pond - while carefully putting back any baby newts, leeches and water boatman who were hiding in it.

Meanwhile Helen, Emma, Rachel, Dave and new GoodGymer Sara uses hoes and trowels to remove dozens of grass tufts which have taken over the gravel path around the garden.

What a sense of achievement to play a part maintaining this special community site which members of GoodGym Kingston first helped to restore over a year ago.

Congratulations to Sara for completing her first task - we hope you'll join another.

And always a pleasure to be with Elliot who doesn’t let you leave until you’ve learnt a fact or two, spreading his passion for nature to everyone.

A month has flown by and it was time to give the GoodGym flowerbed its monthly check up and help out at the Canbury Community Gardens.

We had 9 enthusiastic GoodGymers this evening so we split into two groups and got cracking.

The GoodGym garden crew noticed that signs were good with some late alliums making an appearance and the salvias still providing lots of colour. Weeds had returned but were not too invasive so Claire and Sabir got tackling those and the dry leaves whilst Luke and Tom gave the laurel a hair cut and got rid of some larger weeds and brambles. A few trips to top up the woodchip and a quick drink for the hydrangea and the GG flowerbed was looking wonderful again.

Meanwhile, back at the community garden... Ben and Hazel got stuck into their first GG task by shoveling a load of mature compost into holding bins ready for when needed. Marie Noelle, Dave & Rachel spent their time trimming pathways and pruning bushes and plants that were over their best.

All in all a very productive and fun task! Welcome to GoodGym, Hazel and Benjamin. Hope to see you again :)