Our February trip to our lovely sponsored riverside plots to look after them in the down season so they are fabulous in the summer, for everyone who passes by, including us!

This evening started at Tap Tavern with a warm welcome to Cally and Philip from Richmond Foundation who joined us for the first time to see what GoodGym is all about. And to Ivo who knows very well what it's all about as our CEO!

We took a moment to celebrate Adam becoming a fitness leader, Lucy arrived with news from the winter Olympics that Team GB had not smashed the mysterious art of curling, and we gave a little hoorah to Nina completing 25 tasks, Chris and completing 475 🥳

A good warm-up and lovely run along the riverside with a very high tide creeping in, we were met at the plot by Susannah and Rosie who manage the task as Taskforce, along with our resident outdoor expert, Ken who was working on a solution for hops supports.

After a short fitness session run by Liz we got stuck in to the real business of turning compost, weeding beds, collecting up leaves and sorting the supports. By next month we should start to see a little daylight at tasks, spring is coming!

Join us on the first Saturday and second Monday every month to help look after these lovely little patches of Richmond 😍

Eight GoodGym members turned out to help out at Strand on the Green School, even if one of us was late for registration.

We split into two teams and got straight to work around the pond area. One group — Florian, Michelle, Maxime and Chris — took on the tough task of clearing ivy from the wall surrounding the pond, making a big dent in what had become an impressive tangle.

Meanwhile, Lucy, Breda, Emily and Gus (once he eventually made it through the school gates — detention!!) got stuck into scrubbing the deck around the pond. Extra care was taken not to disturb the pond life, proving that speed and sensitivity can go hand in hand.

Armed with headtorches and running lights, we worked quick as a flash. Before long the jobs were done, it was time to run back, squeeze in some light stretches, and then — naturally — head to the pub.

Coming up this Saturday in Hounslow:

Our rearranged community mission with Friends of Harvard Hill, planting donated trees 🌱 https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/tree-planting-session-at-harvard-hill

A session helping out at Baron's pond in Gunnersbury https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/help-get-baron-s-ponds-ready-for-spring

Plenty more chances to get involved — hope to see lots of you there!