Helping nature on a sunny Sunday morning 🌿☀️.

We love supporting the many fantastic groups making a difference right on our doorstep.

Today we were with the Friends of Lesnes Abbey helping with woodland conservation.

Marc met us and the other volunteers with a wheelbarrow of tools ready to go. We headed up to The Heath - and it definitely was up - taking turns to push the barrow through the woods, and collecting litter as we went.

Once at the top, and after Marc's safety briefing, we got to work pulling up bracken and cutting back the holly, being careful not to tread on any new shoots of heather.

Keeping the invasive intruders at bay will allow heather to gradually reclaim the area, restoring The Heath to it's former glory.

After an hour or so we said goodbye to the others (who carried on working) and headed homeward, stopping to pose in from of the glorious azaleas as we went.

Tomorrow is a bank holiday, and we're off to do something completely different, sorting donations for a local baby bank.

Variety is the spice of GoodGym!

Three of us joined Friends of Lesnes Abbey and Woods for their monthly litter pick with a big turn out of volunteers.

We split into three groups, with some litter picking around the park, others up Knee Hill and the woods.

We collected the usual rubbish, plus hats and pants, along with many hair clips.

A local resident thanked us from her balcony for our work which was really nice.

The sun was shining as we gathered for a well earned drink before the session ended.

We'll be back again next month - we'd love to have you along for a lovely chatty morning in nature which really makes a difference.

The monthly conservation session with the Friends of Lesnes Abbey and Woods is always a feel-good Sunday morning!

Coming from volunteering at junior parkrun just a stone's throw away, we grabbed a coffee from Chestnuts Kiosk before signing in with Paul, who was leading today’s session. Once the rest of the FOLAW volunteers arrived, we set off towards The Heath. Pushing a wheelbarrow full of tools uphill through the woods definitely got the heart rate going 💪. It was a lovely walk with swathes of bluebells lining the path on both sides. Stunning.

Once at the top, Paul gave us a quick refresher on tool safety - short and sweet since we were all regulars - and we got to work cutting back holly and brambles, and pulling up creeping ivy and honeysuckle. There wasn't any bracken to battle this time as it's a bit early in the season, but there was still plenty to keep us busy!

This is an ongoing project to clear more invasive plants so that native heather can thrive and give a more diverse habitat for wildlife.

Every so often we loaded up the wheelbarrow and transported the cuttings to a nearby pile where they’ll rot down naturally. GoodGym strength training in action!

No sign of the Easter Bunny, but we did spot a slow worm hiding under one of the shelters in the undergrowth. Now that was an Easter treat!

The sun was shining and there was some warmth in the air as five of us joined the Friends of Lesnes Abbey and Woods for their monthly community litter pick.

After a friendly welcome from the group, we split into smaller teams and set off in different directions to hunt down discarded rubbish.

With no fixed route to follow, we wandered the paths and let curiosity lead the way, with swathes of bright yellow daffodils making us feel that perhaps spring has finally arrived.

Thankfully, the paths we walked in the park and woods were pretty tidy, but our litter-picking skills mostly came into play along the road just outside the boundary, which was in need of some TLC.

After an hour of fresh air, gentle wandering, and plenty of nice chat we returned to the starting point with our bags of collected litter, ready for the council to whisk them away.

It was fantastic to welcome Alican and Karina to their very first GoodGym task! We hope you had a great time and we’re looking forward to seeing you at many more sessions!

Lesnes Abbey Woods is a hidden gem in Bexley borough - a park with ancient woodland and abbey ruins.

The Park Ranger's work in maintaining the area is supported by the lovely Friends of Lesnes Abbey and Woods (FOLAW) who meet regularly to help protect and preserve this historical place.

Ashton joined this month's conservation session - first Sunday of each month - led by Marc. This is always a great workout, not least because of the uphill climb into the woods to get started!

Alongside the other FOLAW volunteers, this time it was all about clearing brambles and holly along a pathway near the Pine Pond. Getting rid of these prickly invaders increases biodiversity, giving native growth and wild animals the chance to thrive.

Of course, there's loads to be done in woods of this size, but each month helps makes a difference. We'll be back again in March so why not come and join us then?

FOLAW also have a conservation session every Wednesday, and a monthly litter pick. If you're local and would like to find out more they have a great website.

It's rained every day this month, and today was no exception 🌧- it was tipping down at noon as thirteen dedicated volunteers, including our litter picking champion, Ashton, met for the monthly tidy up run by Friends of Lesnes Abbey and Woods in the wonderful grounds and woodland around the abbey ruins.

As the photo shows, they found plenty of rubbish, although by the time the picture was taken most of the crew had headed to Chestnuts café for a warming drink.

What absolute stalwarts braving the horrid weather 🌟. Let's hope it's drier when we join them again in March.

If you're wondering about going along, please do! It's a welcoming and friendly group, and all equipment is provided if you don't have your own.