Solo GoodGym member El took to the Worthing seafront on a balmy Autumn evening to do a great litter pick together with some wonderful photography of our beautiful town.

Bravo El ! 🌻

It was a calm, dull September evening as the GoodGym gang gathered for a litter pick along Windsor Gardens, the lawns stretching out beside the sea.

Tonight’s clean-up crew was Belinda and John, Barbara, Stephane, Julia, Roxy and her four-legged companion Mali the Malinois.

Although there was a slight hitch before we even got started, when I managed to go to the wrong meeting place. 🤦‍♀️

After a bit of backtracking and a gentle reminder that the task leader really ought to know where the task is, we eventually all converged in the right place and got cracking.

Armed with litter pickers and bags, we worked our way along the lawns, clearing up the usual assortment of rubbish that somehow finds its way onto the grass. We certainly weren’t going to let the litter get the better of us but Southern Water has beaten us to the majority of the rubbish having done an extensive clear up yesterday ( Sunday )

Meanwhile, Mali was doing her own thorough investigation of the area, although we're not entirely sure whether she was helping with the litter or simply supervising playing stick chasing with the humans.

And talking of impressive performances…

Roxy had run an absolutely AMAZING 3:36 marathon just TWO DAYS earlier! 🏃‍♀️👏

So while the rest of us were feeling pretty pleased with ourselves for a brisk evening litter pick, Roxy was recovering from 26.2 miles at a pace that most of us would struggle to maintain on an electric bike!

With the lawns looking considerably tidier, the bags filled and the pickers finally put away, it was time to move on to the evening's real highlight…

The Autumn Social!

Belinda and John very kindly welcomed us back to their house for some wonderful hospitality, where we could relax, chat and enjoy some well-earned drinks and a wonderful selection of savoury and sweet snacks.

And, of course, there was the all-important inspection of the new kitchen! It received the full GoodGym seal of approval — beautiful, stylish and definitely worth having a good nose around. We continued our nosing in Johns iconic Dr Who room ( has to be seen to be believed ! )

A lovely way to round off a peaceful September evening: a little litter lifted, plenty of steps clocked up, an extraordinary marathon achievement celebrated, and excellent hospitality enjoyed.

What a glorious evening for one of our favourite summer traditions – a beach litter pick followed by a well-earned picnic social on the green.

With the sun shining and barely a breath of wind (a rare treat so close to the sea!), we gathered on the prom before splitting into three teams. One group headed east towards Anchor Gardens, another swept west around the beach by the pier, while I took on watering duties for our much-loved seafront flower bed, making sure our blooms stay as blooming as possible in this drought !

Forty-five minutes later we reunited, blue bags in hand. Happily, they weren't bursting at the seams this time. Compared with previous visits, there was a reassuringly small amount of rubbish collected, leaving us wondering whether beachgoers are becoming better at taking their litter home, or whether another litter-picking hero had beaten us to it. Either way, we'll happily take that as a win!

With the hard work done, it was time to claim a sunny spot on the grass, unpack the picnics and enjoy an evening of good food, great company and plenty of laughter.

We were also delighted to welcome some very special visitors as Sarah and Ryan stopped by with their beautiful newborn son, Diago. It was lovely to meet the newest (and definitely youngest!) member of the extended GoodGym family.

The celebrations didn't stop there. A huge congratulations to Ricky, who had not one but several incredible milestones to celebrate. Alongside completing his 200th GoodGym task, he's also achieved the astonishing feat of running 250 parkruns at 200 different venues. That's some serious tourism powered entirely by trainers!

As the sun slowly drifted lower and conversations carried on , it was a lovely reminder that GoodGym isn't just about doing good—it's about the friendships, the community and the moments we share along the way.

Another cracking evening where we left the beach a little cleaner, watered the flowers, celebrated a remarkable achievement and made some wonderful summer memories. You could say it was litter-ally the perfect way to spend a warm summer evening!

We even got a fleeting guest appearance by Mr John Robinson and Mr Nick Gleeson 😳

Ahhh… at last, salvation descends from the sky — not as rain (we’ve given up hoping for that), but in the form of our favourite two‑legged water‑wielders. We felt you approaching long before you arrived. The ground trembled gently, the sun glinted off the watering can, and every stem in the bed perked up like, “Everyone behave, the GoodGym crew is here.”

We’ve been parched, you know. The hot weather has been relentless. Some of us were starting to whisper dramatic things like, “Tell my story… remember me fondly…” but thankfully your arrival stopped all that nonsense.

The first splash hit the soil and—oh!—the relief. Pure bliss. A cool drink trickling down to our roots, the kind that makes leaves unfurl and petals sit up straighter. You moved along the bed with purpose, giving each of us a moment of attention. Even the shy ones at the back got a generous soak. We noticed.

Some of us are drama queens (looking at you, marigolds), and immediately started showing off, standing taller as if to say, “Look how hydrated I am now.” Others took their refreshment quietly, letting the water seep in with a grateful sigh.

We chatted among ourselves after you left:

“Did you see how carefully they watered around my base?”

“I got two pours, I’m basically royalty.”

“I think I might grow an extra leaf out of sheer gratitude.”

Thanks to you, we’re ready to face another warm day, another blazing afternoon, another curious dog sniffing around. You’ve kept us in good shape, and we’ll do our best to look vibrant, cheerful, and worthy of your efforts.

So from all of us — the blossoms, the stems, the leaves, the roots, and even the tiny seedlings who are still figuring out which way is up — thank you for wielding the watering can like the hero you are.

Come back anytime. We’ll be here, growing, glowing, and waiting for our next refreshing visit. 🌱💧

Two GoodGymers headed to the prom to give our flowerbed (bed 6) some much‑needed love and attention. With watering cans in hand, we soaked the thirsty soil before planting fresh plants to bring colour and life back to the space. Working side by side, we cleared tired patches, refreshed the bed, and made sure everything was well settled in for the weeks ahead. A simple, sunny session that left the promenade looking brighter and ready to bloom again. El also added some plants to bed 5 and Julia and Barbara contributed plants.

A lovely evening on Worthing seafront saw seven GoodGymers, blue bags and pickers in hand, removing litter from a stretch that ran from the Beach Office to Anchor Gardens. Always a great “catch up and chat” occasion, the full bags tell their own story about the real difference simple tasks like this make.

Denials with thanks

Interaction with the locals is always a pleasure on GoodGym tasks. Today we were given appreciative thanks in two areas along the prom. We also had a profuse denial of littering responsibility directed at us as we cleared around the bench they occupied. The hope that, regardless of his responsibility or not for the litter we picked, is that our visible presence doing this task will be remembered and the bins placed along the seafront are used for their intended purpose.

When the wind blows

To be fair to Worthing, there wasn’t that much rubbish that had been dropped. Most of what we collected probably arrived on the persistent winds we have been experiencing. Activity on the beach has also been restricted due to the trundling back and forth of heavy machinery as they work to repair our long-neglected groynes.

Just like Arnie

We will be back! As we head towards summer, the beach will be busier. Our litter picking example becomes increasingly important, as does the removal of that pesky wind-blown stuff.