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.

Pier Pressure & Petal Power 🌊🌼

A small but mighty group gathered for what turned out to be a wonderfully chilled and cheerful evening by the seaside. It was especially lovely to see Megan again who has been very busy working lately. Plus, with Paul, John and Ricky it turned out a perfectly sized group for the task tonight.

We started off by taking a relaxed social stroll around the pier. With the sea breeze doing its usual chilly thing and the sound of the waves , it was the a great opportunity for a good catch-up, a few laughs and a gentle warm-up for the task ahead. Sometimes the best runs are the ones where nobody’s actually running!

After our scenic wander, it was time to roll up sleeves, and get stuck into a quick winter tidy-up of our seafront flowerbed along the promenade. The bed definitely needed some attention and armed with a few small tools we got to work clearing out the old, taming the unruly and generally giving the space a well-earned refresh.

There was plenty of chat, teamwork and those deeply satisfying moments where you step back and realise, “Oh wow… that actually looks alot better.” The flowerbed is now looking neat, cared for and ready to brave whatever the rest of winter throws at it. Hopefully we may see some spring flowers coming up soon.

All in all, a blooming lovely evening — relaxed, productive and full of good company. Turns out a little seaside stroll and some flowerbed TLC is a great way to tide ourselves over 😄😍

P.S It turns out that my perfect one shot wonderful photo on the pier didn't come out !! 😅 Next time I won't be so confident 😄

March of the Toy Soldiers (and Two Very Good Dogs) 🎄🐾

We wrapped up the year in festive style with a Christmas Toy Soldier social walk, bringing together good company, seasonal cheer and just over 4km of walking and talking.

Our mission was to track down the sometimes elusive Toy Soldier statues scattered along the route. Spirits were high as we searched, spotted and celebrated each one — stopping frequently to strike poses and capture an impressive array of photos along the way. Some soldiers were easier to find than others, but the challenge only added to the fun and we did have 1 very strong contender for a stand in 😀

Adding extra joy to the walk, Roxy and I brought along our dogs, Mali and Hudson, who thoroughly enjoyed being part of the adventure. They even had their own special photo moment in front of Toy Soldier number 5, clearly embracing their roles as honorary GoodGym mascots.

To round off the evening, a group of us headed to the pub for a well-earned festive drink, sharing laughs and reflecting on a great year of moving, helping and socialising together.

A perfect way to close out the year — thanks to everyone who came along, and here’s to more good deeds and good times in the year ahead!

On a chilly but calm late October evening, a small but mighty GoodGym Worthing crew gathered at Splashpoint Leisure Centre, ready for sone beach debris haul.

Ricky headed off for a run and did 3 laps of the pier before I had even got there!

Before we’d even set off, our first discovery of the evening appeared — a shopping trolley sitting proudly right by our meeting point! Gillybean and Stéphane wasted no time in returning the trolley to M and S !

Once we’d had a laugh at our unexpected find, we headed off towards the pier to tackle the litter lurking beneath. Armed with gloves, grabbers, and good humour, we filled a couple of bags with rubbish, driftwood, and all sorts of seaside debris. Belinda and Paul headed on a secret mission to check out an unexpected stationary object on the beach but luckily it was just a large rock sitting on there beach!

"A trolley good effort" from a small but powerful team — proving once again that when it comes to looking after our lovely seafront, GoodGym Worthing always cleans up nicely! 🧹❤️

Huge thanks to everyone who came out on a cool October evening to lend a hand — you’re all pier-fect! 🌊👏