Duckling watch for Goodgymers - a quacking good mission. Goodgymers swapped their running shoes to ducking views. Duck, duck and done.

Paul watched two broods - one an experienced mother who was surrogate to a dozen mallard ducklings. She really struggled and lost all but three, but was brilliant with those three, perhaps slightly over protective. They are all now grown up and part of a bigger group of adolescent mallards.

The other group was a shambles. There were seven ducklings. The male disappeared in week two and for several weeks, I saw no more than one or two at a time and never with the mother. I assumed the worst. But last week I saw the mother with five of them and yesterday with seven! She’s grown into the role!

Jacqui struggled to find any mallard ducklings but persevered and eventually, after numerous visits to lakes, ponds and rivers, found a family.

Sally watched 3 ducklings who were abandoned at around 2-3 weeks old and despite the odds being stacked against them with predators incl american mink, foxes and herons in the area, they are still going strong 9 weeks later and now feel like part of the family. Another group didnt fare so well and all 4 ducklings disappeared over a few days.

On a near-Solstice evening, this wonderful group made a special difference at Adelaide Community Garden!

Nestled behind an unremarkable gate — just a short stroll from Chalk Farm — sits a beautiful (and seemingly endless) stretch of lush allotments.

And this crew got stuck straight into emptying, bagging, and spreading one of Adelaide's four giant compost heaps!

Thank you, everyone — and a particular BIG welcome to Yasmin!

The sun finally remembered how to shine after what seemed like a never ending torrent of rain and thunderstorms, just in time for this Saturday's GoodGym Mission.

Mrs S had asked for some help in her garden, a space that she enjoys coming into for her morning coffee or tea in the evening if the weather is kind enough.

Leaves needing sweeping, weeds needing pulling, bushes needed trimming and a garden table needed assembling. 2 full bags later, Mrs S was so thankful for all the help and was excited to see her garden back in a usable state again. Good thing the sun is out so she can start using it straight away....

6 GoodGymers catch a touch of Sunday nature!

Tucked between the Heath and Highgate Road is a fresh looking school called Parliament Hill, and nestled between the building and the fence is a beautifully cultivated green haven, which was our home for the morning!

Thanks to local volunteers — from a wonderful group called Growing Green — a one-time playing field has been turned into a collection of mini meadows, growing patches, and natural habitats!

And this fabulous group — of DaMarcus, Harvey, Lauren (on their first good deed — welcome!), Leora, and Lydia — made a meaningful difference on multiple fronts and all while chatting up a Sunday morning storm :)

Thank you, everyone! Catch you soon!