What a way to celebrate two whole years of GoodGym Merton! To mark our 2nd birthday this November, we doubled down on the fun with two action-packed sessions before heading off to enjoy a well-earned birthday drink.

It was incredible to see such a brilliant turnout and reflect on just how much our community has grown over the last two years.

Admittedly, we got so caught up in the catch-ups and celebrations that we completely forgot to snap a group photo! Luckily, John Shirley saved the day and grabbed a quick picture with a few of the team before heading off. We hope to see you back in Merton again soon, and definitely well before our next birthday!

A massive thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey so far. Cheers to two years of doing good and keeping fit, and to many more to come

Six GoodGymmers headed to Little ARK's new makerspace next to South Wimbledon station, where the plan had been to help Syebvonne settle into the recently acquired space. However, before any serious unpacking could begin, it became clear that years of station life and subsequent disuse had left a little more cleaning to do than expected.

The space's previous life as a Tube station office was still very much on display. Alongside sinks, taps and other operational relics, one old London Underground rule book had even found a second career as a doorstop! But while the history was charming, decades of accumulated grime was a bit less so.

Five GoodGymmers attacked the doors, windows, frames and handrails downstairs and up, scrubbing away decades of grime and scuffs. Meanwhile Lisa took on the particularly intricate challenge of cleaning a donated industrial sewing machine - working from foot pedal to thread spools and every nook and cranny in between, she painstakingly transformed it from grotty to gleaming.

By the end of the evening, the space was noticeably cleaner, neater and one stop closer to its new life as a community makerspace. All change for this former Underground office. This grime terminates here!

Four GoodGymers joined the Friends of John Innes Park this morning for their monthly gardening session. With recent rain taking care of the watering, we focused on lavender trimming, alkanet removal - and the highly scientific process of whacking dried poppy heads to help next year's flowers spread their seed.

We'll be back next month for a concerted attack on the bamboo. Until then, we’ll be binge-watching giant panda documentaries as tactical research…

Tonight the team returned to Morley Park to give the Friends group a hand with some serious path reclamation.

Armed with spades and loppers, we tackled a large section where dirt and overgrowth had narrowed the walkway. The rock-hard ground, after a dry summer, had turned digging into a proper full-body workout, including branch-busting and pruning back overhanging trees and bushes.

By the end, we had cleared heaps of soil and debris, fully restoring a wide stretch of path for local park-goers. Who needs a gym membership when there's jobs like this to do? Well done everyone - it's great to be back in action!

A large group of us headed to the Martin Way Methodist Church community garden tonight, luckily there is always enough jobs to go around! We weeded, air-rated clay, dead headed, leaf blowed and watered. A group of us also started painting a fence! It was a very productive hour and we are excited to continue the work next month! A big GoodGym welcome to Jerrold who attended his first session this evening, we hope to see you again soon.