It was pouring as we arrived so kudos to everyone who turned up, particularly Tracey, Lara and Ankur, who were logging their first GoodGym good deeds.

Boyne Hill CE Infant and Nursery school invited us in to tidy up their nature area, making it an enjoyable space for children and mini-beasts alike. Our group today included five parents and one grandparent of children who attend the school so have a special interest in the project, although Lara and Tara - the remaining two with no connection to the school - worked just as hard!

In an hour and a half we got busy with all sorts...

• Barking glad: spreading bark chips on the path to keep the weeds down and make it look neat and tidy;
• Getting diggy with it: digging a new bed in the lightest part of the garden, which can be cultivated by the children or scattered with wildflower seeds next Spring;
• Buggingham Pallets: assembling a pre-fab bug hotel, which James had created in advance out of pallets (he cheated slightly by doing his part in this mission at home, but it was super impressive so we'll forgive him! Also he's married to Amy and she gave him little choice in the matter);
• Bamboo is inn this season: furnishing aforementioned bug hotel using bamboo, pine cones, twigs and dried leaves to make a cosy interior for our mini-beast friends, and using acryclic paint to add a hotel sign and a few colourful creepy crawlies of our own;
• Bathroom tweet: creating a focal point in the centre of the garden around a donated bird bath;
• Tyred so we got ready for beds: setting up tyres ready to be filled with compost to house a 'sapling nursery', and levelling the ground in one corner ready for a raised bed.

We were pleased with the difference we made in a short time. We hope the children enjoy lots of adventures in this green and leafy space and are intrigued by the beasties they share it with.