Mo, Samantha, Marjorie joined the Friends of Lesnes Abbey and Woods (FOLAW) for their monthly conservation session yesterday.

This was Marjorie's first ever GoodGym task and here's how she found it...

"My first volunteering session at Lesnes Abbey Woods was a really positive experience. The group was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and respectful, making it easy to get involved and work together.

During the session, we helped remove bracken and wild honeysuckle from the heathland to give the heathers more space and light to thrive, supporting the conservation of this important habitat.

It was very rewarding, and I enjoyed contributing to the local environment alongside such a great team led by Marc from FOLAW".

It's great to have you as part of Team GG Bexley, Marjorie. And well done everyone for your hard work 💚🌿🌱.

Our session at the Community Hospice got off to a brilliant start when Ivar arrived bearing a batch of home-baked solskinnsboller – Norwegian “sunshine buns”. They were absolutely delicious and perfectly suited to the sunny weather 😎.

We were also happy to see Mo wearing her red GoodGym tshirt - definitely part of the team now!

Fortified by our sweet treat, we headed with Jas, the Hospice’s Head Gardener, into the woodland area, where our task was to reclaim a patch of ground from the bracken and brambles that had started to creep back since they were last cleared a year ago.

Thankfully, the shady woodland offered some protection from the sun and we took things steady in the heat. This said, all the crouching, bending and pulling certainly provided a good leg workout!

Our trusty yellow gauntlet gloves proved invaluable as we tackled the thorny brambles and provided Ivar with the perfect inspiration for his pun in the title of this report!

After 75 minutes of ground work, three bulging bags of greenery had been consigned to the compost heap and we were super happy with the transformation.

We really enjoy our monthly visits to the Hospice, helping to keep the peaceful gardens looking their best. And a it's always great way to spend a Saturday morning with good company.

Why not join us next time!

We had a really enjoyable Sunday morning teaming up with the Friends of Lesnes Abbey and Wood.

During the session, we set about clearing a large area of bracken to let the heather thrive. Thankfully, the recent rain made the task easier, as it helped loosen the roots and made removal more effective.

While working, we also had the opportunity to learn more about the woodland and the history of the heath, which made the experience even more interesting and rewarding.

It was great to be part of a group effort contributing to the care and preservation of the environment.

We were very lucky with the weather, which made the morning even more pleasant and allowed us to make good progress with the work.

We'll be back again to help with more woodland conservation on the first Sunday in July. Tasks vary from month to month, so why not join us for a lovely dose of fresh air and active volunteering in beautiful surroundings. Oh, and the coffee from Chestnuts Kiosk is an added treat to round things off!

Things weren't looking promising for tonight's task as a dramatic thunderstorm — complete with forked lightning and torrential rain ⛈️ — rolled in just as we gathered at Danson Watersports Centre.

The plan was to take to the water for The Big Paddle Clean Up, litter-picking from kayaks and rowing boats 🛶 🚣‍♂️ to reach rubbish lurking along the banks that can't be accessed from the shore.

Along with volunteers from The Friends of Danson Park, a local Scout pack and Meridian Canoe Club, we huddled in the watersports reception, watching the skies and hoping the weather would ease. Not the best start for Jay's first ever GoodGym session.

Thankfully, though, the storm passed and we got the all clear to get going!

After a safety briefing, our water-based volunteers got kitted out in waterproofs and buoyancy aids before launching onto the lake. Meanwhile, two of us GoodGymers opted to stay on dry land, preferring a more traditional litter-picking approach and clocking up an impressive step count with a full lap of the lake.

The weather must have sensed that we were lending Mother Nature a hand. Before long, the storm clouds had disappeared, replaced by blue skies and glorious warm evening sunshine.

There was plenty of chatting and teamwork throughout the evening and, encouragingly, not a huge amount of litter to collect. Always a positive sign!

The time flew by and, once the boats were back on shore, everyone gathered for a well-earned hot drink and biscuits before heading home.

GoodGym tasks are always varied, but this one felt particularly special. How often do you get to go litter-picking by boat? We had a fantastic evening and can't wait to get involved again next year!

Phew, it was hot work at the Community Hospice this morning, but we got loads done!

We met in the Hospice canteen and welcomed Richard to his first GG session.

Jason, the Head Gardener, had two tasks lined up for us and we split into two groups.

Team Firethorn pulled on heavy-duty leather gauntlets and got stuck into cutting back an overgrown and fiendishly prickly Pyracantha 'Firethorn' hedge. They also sawed down an out-of-place and unloved Yucca in the long flower border, before chopping everything into manageable pieces and barrowing it all over to the compost heap.

Meanwhile, Team Moonbeam worked in a different flower bed, planting Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'. The dry, stony soil put up a determined fight as we dug their new homes. Thankfully, being small plants, we didn't need to dig too deep to make room for their roots. Once planted, they were given a good watering before the team headed over to join in the hedging fun.

Time flew by, and Jason was very happy with what we'd achieved. The hedge had apparently been sitting on his to-do list for a couple of years, so it was especially satisfying to help him finally tick it off ✔️. It's always great when we can make such a visible difference!

With the jobs complete, we collected up all the tools and ferried them back to the shed before heading our separate ways.

Well done everyone, such a good vibe and a fantastic job done!

Look out for Cecilia's video on our Instagram and Facebook feeds soon!