Six GoodGymers headed up to the Moulsecoomb Estate allotments for an evening of fresh air, teamwork, and a proper hands-on permaculture challenge. Our host Heidi at the Moulsecoomb Allotment and Horticultural Society look after the plots on Natal Road, and they’d asked for help tackling some of the heavier jobs that had built up over winter.

What we got up to:

• Heidi welcomed us onto the site and gave us a tour of the areas needing attention. With tools gathered and gloves on, we split into small groups and got stuck in:
• Clearing weeds from paths and beds to give the plots some breathing space
• Digging out buried rubbish, including long-forgotten bits of plastic and metal that had been hiding under the soil
• Helping the pollinator-friendly plants by freeing up space around them and removing competing growth
• Building rustic wattle-style plot edges using branches and cuttings — a surprisingly satisfying bit of natural construction that gave the beds a lovely defined border
• Plenty of teamwork and chat, making the graft feel lighter and the afternoon fly by

The results: By the end of the session, the allotment looked noticeably clearer and more cared for. The new twig borders gave the plots structure, the weeds were under control, and several bags of rubbish were removed from the ground. Heidi was delighted with the progress — especially with how much six pairs of hands could achieve in a short time.

And, what a vibe!

A proper GoodGym session: practical, outdoorsy, and full of good energy. Everyone mucked in, swapped tips, and enjoyed the chance to do something physical and rewarding together. The rustic edging challenge turned out to be a highlight, with some surprisingly artistic results. Julien D and Jane were unstoppable in their digging and creative endeavour.

Here some lovely quotes:

“It was great fun to be constructing something for a change. Who knew it wasn’t all about destructive gardening (or bindweed clearing as it often involves)? A great task with a smiley host “

“After what seems like years of digging up carpet and plastic it was refreshing to be creating something nice on the allotments this time, and the stunning sunset was an added bonus“.

To many more sunsets at the allotments with GoodGym Brighton! 🌅