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 👩‍🌾

Despite a bit of a blustery, windy evening, the team headed back to Longthornton to put the finishing touches on our hoarding masterpiece. When we arrived, the lovely Sarah had already made a head start by outlining some of the images giving us the perfect template to get stuck in.

It was all hands on deck to paint the white of the eyes first, ensuring they had enough time to dry so we could get that vital second coat on. Between the laughs and the gusty weather, we managed to create some beautifully furry edges before finally adding the whiskers here and there. This truly was one of the most rewarding tasks we’ve been asked to tackle. Combining community spirit with a bit of creative flair was a total joy, and the end result is quite something to behold. Longthornton is looking a lot more purr-fect tonight and the team have gained some new skills.