Three of our local GoodGym team headed to Deen City Farm today to help them set up their weekend farm fête — sensibly avoiding public transport on a record-b(re)aking hot day!

The main focus was preparing the site for games, activities and stalls. Thankfully there was plenty of shade and water available! First up was erecting five gazebos (including a small repair job to one of them), which all went up remarkably smoothly thanks to past experience from one of the GoodGym crew who’d done this very task (and gazebo repair) at the farm before.

Setting up tables and chairs followed, but with a shortfall of tables we had to get creative. Some old wooden cable reels lurking around the back of the farm were promoted to the position of children’s tables. Gloves on to avoid splinters, and then the three of us tipped the cable reels onto their sides and rolled them all the way across the farm under the watchful eyes of its residents.

The farm is now well set up and ready for tomorrow's activities, and we’re very pleased to report that no pigs or other animals were harmed in the process!

Four intrepid GoodGymmers made their way along the River Wandle on a fair Friday morning to help Deen City Farm set up for their weekend fair. The main task was setting up several gazebos, and after figuring out how they worked (plus a DIY repair to one of them!), we were a lean, mean gazebo-constructing machine!

A last-minute change of heart meant we needed to swap a fully constructed double gazebo from one paddock to another. No problem either for our crack team! With a few extra (farm)hands and military precision we had them both up and over the fences like a well-oiled machine.

Although our tasks weren't meant to be farm related, a few local residents did decide to get involved - from a riding horse interested in our tent pegs to Meg the Shetland cow 'horning' in on our selfie! Farm life 👩‍🌾

Atif and I had the joy of going to Deen City Farm for a litter pick. The sun was shining, the families were out and litter was picked! Thankfully there wasn’t too much litter, so lots of ground was covered. It was my first time at the farm and won’t be my last!

This really is a ewe-nique task... Where else do you get the chance to stroke a donkey or nearly get your hand bitten off by a goat, while still doing good and without leaving London? Today we were clearing litter from the car park and the paths adjacent to the farm. While in some ways it was like having a country stroll in the (bonus) sunshine, we also filled our black bags with all sorts of rubbish and left feeling udderly satisfied.

We went full elf mode today at Deen City Farm to help bring some festive magic to Santa's Grotto!

Our four-person team divided and conquered the tasks: two of us were on crucial Nice List verification duty, checking if all the excited children had made the cut (Spoiler: they all did!). The other two volunteers were essential in the Grotto, capturing those perfect photos with Santa and ensuring every child received a gift. It was a busy day, with a long queue but luckily the weather was on our side with the sun shining.

Great job team and a big welcome to Sophia, well done on your first good deed.

This festive mission took us to Deen City Farm to help transform the space, ready for Santa's Grotto visits. The team had a brilliant time channeling their inner elves. We worked on creating the enchanting scene: assembling Christmassy arches draped with lights, setting out candy cane pathways, and making friends with some polar bears.

What a fun way to bring some Christmas magic to the community. We are looking forward to being back next week for elfing duties, why not join us: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/elf-support-at-deen-city-farm-0243bc94-e4ae-4faa-bf54-6436ae548cec