Though dark dark and cold we felt four-tunate to have a small group of GoodGymers gathered together on garden tidying duties.

They went fourth with enthusiasm, the GoodGym lights showing the way.

The four-ward thinking group laughed and chatted through the task.

A four-tune teller would have predicted the impact of the group. Like a four-ce of nature, the small group cut, swept and generally tidied.

How do you know if you’ve made a difference tidying a garden in the dark? Check out that green bin! We checked, we did!

Written by John !

Back to School for Round 2 of Painting!

GoodGym returned to our local primary school this evening for Part Two of our big corridor-makeover mission — and what a team effort it was!

Richard, the ever-organised facilities manager, had everything laid out and ready to go the moment we arrived: Regulation cream paint, brushes, rollers, trays… the works. With supplies in hand, we jumped straight back into transforming the corridor we began on our previous visit. The group quickly settled into a rhythm, and the once-tired walls started to brighten again under fresh coats of paint.

Meanwhile, a brave trio — Paul, Paul, and Mel — volunteered for a mission within the mission: giving the girls’ toilets a much-needed refresh. Hats off to them for stepping up!

But the evening’s GG Hero Award simply had to go to Belinda, who fearlessly took the lead into the boys’ toilets, confronting both the walls and the smell. She was soon joined by Roxy and Paula, forming a powerhouse team that got the job done with determination (and possibly held breath). Absolute legends — bravo! 😇😇😇

Barbara also deserves a big shout-out for taking on paint splodge clean-up duty — a task requiring keen eyes, steady hands, and a sense of humour as she chased down rogue drips and smudges before they could set in. Every team needs a detail hero 🙏

A special shout-out as well to John, who took over photography duties for the evening. A refreshing change from the usual snapper — and much appreciated!📷

Another fantastic night of teamwork, transformation, and community spirit — proving once again that when it comes to a pot of cream paint, GoodGym knows exactly how to whip it into shape! 🎨😄

This week’s GoodGym task took us to one of our favourite local beauty spots — Goring Gap — for a satisfying and sociable litter pick. With the autumn leaves beginning to fall, the area was looking gorgeous, but there was still plenty of stray rubbish hiding among the trees and along the paths.

Armed with litter pickers, gloves, and a good dose of enthusiasm, our team fanned out across the park to tidy up. We managed to fill several bags with bottles, cans, crisp packets, and the usual mysterious “unidentifiable objects” that always seem to appear! Passers-by gave us smiles and thank-yous, which always makes the effort feel even more worthwhile.

Trash Talk & Tasty Treats

Once the task was done and the area looking cleaner than ever, we headed back to my house for a well-earned social — complete with drinks, nibbles, and some cake. It was a lovely way to unwind together, chat, and celebrate another GoodGym evening well spent ( plus a significant milestone Birthday)

I would just like to add a huge thank you for the incredibly generous birthday gift you all clubbed together for my 60th! I’m really touched by your kindness and thoughtfulness — it means a lot to me. I feel very lucky to be part of such a wonderful GoodGym family. Thank you all for making my birthday so special and Tamsin for organising the collection for me ❤️🎉

Also a huge thanks to everyone who came along and contributed both to the clean-up and to the good vibes afterwards. The park looked better for our efforts, and our spirits were definitely lifted by great company and good food!

Well done team — see you next week for another task and another round of good deeds! John is in charge- happy days!

A bright and slightly chilly evening saw our small but mighty team of five heading to English Martyrs School, where we were warmly greeted by Helen, the head teacher. She filled us in on the school’s plans to give their gardens a boost in time for the new season — and we were more than happy to help!

With tools at the ready, we split into two mini teams to make the most of our time. John, Roxy and Julia got to work on a bed full of lily-like shrubs, carefully digging them up, dividing the roots and replanting the new sections all along the flowerbed. It was a satisfying and surprisingly creative job — and by the end, the border was looking much fuller and ready to flourish.

Meanwhile, Ricky and El tackled another flowerbed that needed a good weed and clear-out. The pair worked methodically to remove stubborn roots and prepare the soil, setting it up perfectly for the bulbs that will be planted tomorrow.

By the end of the session, both areas looked tidy, refreshed and full of promise. Helen was delighted with the progress, and we left feeling proud of what our compact crew had achieved.

A lovely evening of teamwork, green thumbs, and garden transformation — well done, team! 🌱💪