4 GoodGymers met with 4 Colchester in Bloom volunteers to add some spring colour to the planters in town.

We were tasked with removing litter and weeds, then adding some new flowers into the boxes at the top of the high street, so be sure to admire them next time you go past.

After a conversation about mine, and AI's inability to come up with puns, and also whether Jonny Cash sang a version of The Gambler (he did) I'm afraid the title is the best I could come up with!

We noted the large amount of litter around the high street while doing the planting and so next week's task is to help remove some of it around town. Sign up to help us if you can!

1 GoodGymer swept the floor at the FoodBank.

If you're reading this and are able to help out please sign up for the next time we're cleaning there on Tuesday 7th April as with a bigger group of us we can have so much more impact on the large warehouse which is used to feed hungry people in Colchester and the surrounding area.

2 GoodGymers met Pam from Colchester in Bloom to help tidy up the planters along the high street. Despite our best efforts to change the soil and remove weeds in the autumn, some resilient weeds had come back with a vengeance and took a lot of effort to detangle their roots from the plants. There was also the usual litter from people mistaking the planters for ash trays/gum bins, but after an hour's hard work removing litter, dead heads and weeds the planters were in a much better shape to welcome in the new growth spring brings!

Sorting the planters in town is always a great opportunity for a chinwag with Pam/fellow GoodGymers, and to be entertained by the random comments of passerbys (asking whether we're digging up buried treasure seems to be a common one!).

All in all, a successful evening!

A dry and misty start in Colchester, for this week's junior parkrun. Louise was at the helm, run directing, with the rest of the team marshalling around the park. With additional support from the Duke of Edinburgh award volunteers, plus lots of regular helpers, the event was well staffed, and everyone did their bit to encourage the runners and walkers. Colchester junior parkrun is always looking for folk to help ensure that the event runs safely and smoothly, but it is a lot of fun and very easy. Email the volunteer coordinator, to get involved.

4 GoodGymers met one wet and chilly Tuesday evening to clean the Foodbank.

The outdoor weather was soon forgotten though as we warmed up working together to sweep the huge warehouse floor.

Keely and Henry then beautified the admin and front of house areas, cleaning surfaces and vacuuming the carpet while Louise and Mzi got to work with the mops.

We'll be back again first Tuesday in March!

Well done everyone for supporting nature this weekend. Remember to upload your findings to the RSPB website, when you get a moment. There's a live leaderboard; with two million birds recorded so far..... what will be the final tally?! Full results will be published in a few months time. Thank you for getting involved, I hope you enjoyed your birdwatching.