The last time we did this task it was dark and even though we shifted a whole pile of woodchip, there were still gaps and the saplings need as much mulch as possible to ensure they have the best start and grow big and strong!

Most of the group were assembled at Glass Mill (Welcome John to your first Lewisham GoodGym session) and a Steve and Linda were meeting us at Ladywell Fields.

A short run tonight (I save the long ones for post-marathon..) and before we knew it we were at Ladywell Fields and ready to get stuck in.

We soon got into a rhythm of moving the wheelbarrows and buckets along the row of saplings. Ensuring each sapling has 1m radius of woodchip and a depth of up to 5cm. We were missing one person though, Steve was lost in Ladywell Fields, 600+ good deeds and you'd think he'd know our presence a mile off! Once Steve found us, he got started on some speedy shoveling of the woodchip into the wheelbarrows and buckets. What was good about Steve not being able to find us was that it shows just how many projects we've been involved in in Ladywell Fields (Tiny Forest, The Orachard...).

We powered through the rest of the woodchip and made sure all the saplings were protected - task well done team!

There was just time for a quick group photo and for Lindsay to return a broom that was nearly coming back to Glass Mill with us!

Next week we have a brand new task clearing the garden to make it more beautiful for residents.

What a different an hour makes, as the group benefitted from the recent clocks change and met up in FULL sunshine at Glass Mills! We also welcomed back Amy to the fold, after a few years away from the group.

Setting off on the dot, our route this evening was a straight shot along Lewisham High Street to Catford – not the most picturesque, as a couple of people noted, but there was at least the upside of the cacophony of smells from all kinds of restaurants and eateries along the way (though not great for any peckish runners!).

Arriving at Lewisham Unitarians, we were greeted not only by Kim but also by Steve who (I’ve since learned) was celebrating the amazing milestone of his 600th good deed! GG Lewisham’s own bowling pro never was one to flaunt his achievements… so we will on his behalf: congratulations!!

With daylight still on our side, we set about tackling the Unitarian’s garden’s twin foes: fallen leaves, and fly-tipping :o( the latter was meticulously cleaned & bagged up, including the surprising find of a van’s entire front bumper.

For the leaves, it was a case of adding to a set of rubble sacks in which the group’s previous efforts were slowly mulching away.

With our host needing to depart before sunset, this was a fairly short task but the garden’s modest size also meant it was perfect to be tackled in the time available by an enthusiastic group!

As if the satisfaction of a job well done wasn’t enough, we were then cheered by GG royalty on our way home, as we passed Adele!

It was the first group run since the clocks changed and we were looking forward to a group run in daylight. And I was mostly looking forward to not taking dark blurry photos!

It was time for one of our regular group runs to The Albany but first we had to take a detour to see the teenage herons. It has been hit and miss recently on the amount of litter in the garden and with the grass getting longer it provided a good hiding place for the litter.

Not to be deterred and without Vic's extending litter picker, we still managed to half fill some gigantic bin bags. If they'd have been normal sized bin bags then I think we would have filled them.

It was time to say our goodbyes and head to The Brookmill for our social.

A beautiful morning for Catford parkrun, Lindsay was armed with a litter picker as she did course check, Paul dropped cones artistically around the former home of Charlton Athletic ensuring that runners and walkers avoided the few bits of remaining mud.

After a lovely sunset, Lewisham GoodGymers assembled at Glass Mills for another evening’s activity – this time, a return to the Rural Urban Synthesis Society, better know to us as RUSS. A short sharp run was just what was needed, on a cold Monday evening, as we were met by Eleanor and assigned our tasks: clearing away topsoil in readiness for future planting, plus some soil rotivation if time allowed. Whilst a team filled sacks with soil, 2 wheelbarrows were provided to transport them to their destination… but wait, disaster: one have a VERY flat tyre, as Julian discovered during the first slow and shaky delivery!! Fear not, though, as a substitute cart was offered and ensured the sacks would keep flowing nearly as fast as they could be filled. And were they filled fast!! As our total passed 30, and a slight backlog built up, there was time to start that rotivating whilst the last sacks were taken away. After a good evening’s work, and a quick team portrait, we were rewarded with tea and biccies before our run back to base – see you again soon, RUSS, perhaps next time in some daylight!