One lonely runner set of from Charlton for this week's group run. At Woolwich the numbers grew, two more runners and 4 walkers continued on to Plumstead and soon we numbered 12. And we needed all the help we could get for our litter pick around the Plumstead-Thamesmead borders.

The area was in a disgusting state: cans, paper, and crisp packet abounded along with a few bottles containing fluids that we may have been better off not emptying (my nose won't be forgetting in a hurry). The team worked like troopers, wandering off in all directions and in Ashton's case deep into the woods to really give the area a comprehensive clean. And what a difference we made: after just an hour we'd filled over 25 bags with general waste and recycling ready for the council to pick up the next day.

This isn't the nicest task that we do, but it's one of the most important and we left the area so much cleaner than when we started. A job well done by all.

And thanks to Ivar for the amazing pun for the title

Next week, in something of a contrast, we're making paper chains for kids for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Hope to see you all there.

Last night brought us to Plumstead, some of us running by the river, others walking and meeting us at the location for our glamorous task of litter picking a particularly grotty spot. Good deeds definitely earned for this one! Thankfully the rain held off and we busily collected a whopping 28 bags of bottles, wrappers, and oddly some hair? It's surely Incredibles what 11 commited GoodGymers can achieve in a short space of time - great work everyone.

A huge welcome back to Kevin, who has already smashed FOUR tasks since joining last week 👏 and big cheers to Hope on your second GGG group run, great to have you with us again!

This weekend we've got lots going on:

Saturday 16th

• Flyering for MumsAid at Peninsula Parkrun: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/distribute-flyers-for-mumsaid-at-greenwich-peninsula-parkrun

• Gardening at Oxleas Woods: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/gardening-at-oxleas-woods

• Cleaning up at the pet cemetery: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/clean-up-at-the-old-blue-cross-pet-cemetery-e6d263c5-2c11-43fa-8e77-c9efd3ea628d

Sunday 17th

• Helping at the Charlton plant sale: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/helping-at-the-cabahs-plant-sale-e6216869-db5c-4f0f-870d-836747fe587f

• Gardening at Hervey road: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/gardening-at-hervey-road-community-garden

Next week

Tuesday

https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/moving-furniture-and-cleaning-at-the-wsup

Wednesday

Sweeping at Morden College and social 🍻: https://www.goodgym.org/v3/sessions/sweeping-by-morden-college-and-social

Until next time!

Rachel

9 GoodGym-ers made their way from various start points between Charlton & Woolwich, along the river at Woolwich, to the outskirts of a retail estate in Plumstead, where fast food, a major roundabout, and several pedestrian/cycle interchanges have contributed to a huge build up of rubbish.

Our task might not have been as exciting as this morning's Lunar Litterpick, but adventures were to be had as we got to see the best & worst of the area, passing through local parks along the way.

Joined by other volunteers, we hastily got to work gathering the usual bottles, cans, coffee cups, masks, water bottles, chocolate wrappers & papers into bags. Some of this involved hedge battles to rescue the captive litter, which in general I think we won, with many bags of waste & recyclables to show for it.

Time made April Fools of us all, and soon darkness was announcing the end of today's task. A final workout taking lots of full rubbish bags to the bins around the corner and we headed our separate ways.

Until next time!