On the path to rehoming Bugs, we completed digging up a path. The result will be creating a new path from from the street to the Art's Entrance, making sure the path is not steep and is wheelchair friendly.

The four of us, finished the task that was started (also by goodgym Richmond) yesterday. The section of path I did had a large number of white bugs that we rehomed into the grass.

It was a lovely tasks that was easy work with the Art's centre voluteer also helping.

Our Saturday mission was at the Landmark Art’s Centre, where we were digging up the footpath of their garden. We had to dig deep enough to get to the membrane and remove the membrane sheets. These have been there for quite a few years and it was more like tearing them out one bit at a time. There will be a new path laid, which will also be more accessible for wheelchair users. We spotted quite a few worms and fat, white grubs. Afterwards, we rewarded ourselves with a good ‘grub’ at the Anglers pub and enjoyed the sunshine!

The rain thankfully held off on this crisp and cool evening, when 5 Goodgymers helped out at the Landmark Arts Centre. We got tasked around the front of the fences to pull and tug out the ivy growing underneath the shrubs. It was quite the task but we managed to complete it all and after sweeping it all up, we went off to the Anglers to get out of the cold!

On a warm Monday evening (but not crazy hot like some recent evenings), 7 happy GGers gathered at the grounds of the Landmark Centre in Teddington. If you've not been, it's really quite a sight - a huge cathedral-style church with flying buttresses (I credit reading "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett for educating me on those), which is no longer used for the observance of religion but as the home of an independent charity whose purpose is to maintain the building as an energetic arts centre and community resource.

Here's the history from the website: "Our magnificent building was constructed in the 1880s as the church of St Alban The Martyr. Originally designed for a congregation of 1200, by the 1970s it was declared redundant and was neglected for many years. A passionate campaign led by local people eventually succeeded in saving it from demolition and in 1995 it became the home of a new community art centre – the Landmark Arts Centre."

We arrived to find volunteer Andy who gave us a list of options to work on. We asked what was the most important/urgent help needed and were told of a strange thing called "ALKANET".

WARNING: rest of report is a bit weird.

We meekly accepted this and followed Andy, expecting further instructions. It turns out that rather than being some kind of Terminator II-style organisation of the future, Alkanet (specifically Green Alkanet) is a voracious intruder, linked through an underground network, which is seeking to take over the world. Oh, so a bit like a Terminator II-style organisation of the future.

Andy demonstrated how to tackle our foe (no explosives required, just a good spade and a pair of gardening gloves) and we spread out to better stem the tide of green chaos. Emulating Sarah Connor, Kate fought the good fight against the invaders while carrying the next generation to ensure a brighter future. The rest of us, her footsoldiers, backed her up across different territories, doing our best to keep the menace at bay.

Eventually we had to concede temporary defeat. ALKANET will survive another day. But we will regroup. We will recruit new volunteers to the cause. We will be back to fight. And we will conquer.

#ALKANETWILLFALL #NOFATE

It was a mighty good evening for getting together and doing some good.

Our task was to deliver leaflets that were trying to help raise donations for the Landmarks arts centre who, like a lot of places, are struggling financially. Our task organiser was incredibly well prepared and had made multiple bags of leaflets and a useful piece of paper with the roads to post the leaflets on.

We split up into pairs taking a bag or two each and got stuck in. The nice part about posting leaflets is seeing some of the smaller streets in the area that you would not normally head down. This worked out well for Monika and Nat who came across a mini jungle along the way!

There is a real surge in new community missions so please check them out here - Richmond community missions

See you at the next one!

10 runners ran 10km to help Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington.

With a longer run ahead of us we didn’t hang about tonight - not even for a glass of water!! With a swift warm up outside Wholefoods to get our muscles going and a quick game of knee tag we commenced the wet & squelchy run down to the river & along to Petersham. With all GoodGymers donning their head torches the light guided us safely along the riverside to Ham House and then on to Teddington Lock, arriving at Landmark Arts Centre.

Landmark Arts Centre offers a year-round programme of concerts and other live events, exhibitions, fairs and arts classes in Teddington. The charity's historic building was the backdrop for our task this evening since the centre had received a new addition to their gardens in the form of a very impressive Angler Fish sculpture. Designed as part of a Plastic Free Schools Competition run by City To Sea (a not-for-profit campaigning to prevent plastic pollution at source) and their partner Robeco. Schools were asked to design a sculpture that helped raise awareness of the problem of plastic pollution and encourage people to change their habit by switching from bottled water to a reusable. The winning design was created by a pupil of Teddington School & the sculpture was crafted by a local artist made entirely out of plastic water bottles, complete with STOP sign, which certainly makes you stop and think. The Angler Fish had been on display in central London but has returned to Teddington where it started its journey.

Equipped with tools, secateurs & gloves we quickly got to work with clearing the area of weeds & fallen leaves & having a general tidy, before laying down wood chips so the sculpture could take pride of place in its new home. We also trimmed back the hedges surrounding the gardens to allow for passers-by to view the awesome Angler Fish.

With the long run ahead, we managed a quick group shot in front of the award winning sculpture before returning back along the river with a renewed awareness of its importance to us all and the need to protect it.