This week, myself and Mark joined Viv, Lumen, and a team of hardworking local volunteers to tackle some seasonal gardening tasks—it’s officially the season for cutting back!

We focused on clearing and tidying to keep the area looking its best. One key job was cutting back the hedge that was overhanging the path, making sure it’s clear and accessible for all pedestrians.

Lumen also shared another brilliant tip. To identify whether a plant is truly dead and in need of a cut back, cut a small section away and look for green inside. Or gently scrape the stem. If you see green, the plant is alive and kicking! 🌱

We also spent time deadheading flowers and collecting their seeds for next year 🌺.

The planters are looking neat and ready for the months ahead. We’ll be back soon to keep up the good work—come join us! 🌱✨

This morning I was back with Viv, Lumin, and a small group of dedicated local volunteers to help prep the Silverdale planters for winter and next spring!

Though it started off wet, the skies soon cleared, giving us the perfect window to get to work. We spent the session cutting back and pruning the plants to help them stay strong through the colder months, along with a little planting.

We added two Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ plants on the slope next to the planters. Insider knowledge from Lumin: ‘Hot Lips’ are part of the sage family—rub the leaves and give them a sniff for a fragrant surprise! 🌱

We also relocated some perennial sunflowers 🌻 from one bed to another to ensure both areas get a burst of tall, dramatic yellow flowers next year.

We’ll be back next month to keep the planters in shape for the seasons ahead—join us! 🌦️🌼

Well it was an hedgucation for me tonight as it was my first time leading a group run without Mark's supervision but luckily I had 12 awesome GoodGymmers to rely on for moral support. After a run down of our favourite ice creams (why do other countries always have cooler flavours than the UK?!) we made our way to Alexandra Recreation Ground to meet Linda and the other Friends of the Parks volunteers.

Big shout out to Hannah for leading the walking group, Stephen for backmarking the runners and Jing who was attending her first session and bravely accepted the challenge of running the long way round up the hill to the task!

Once we got to the park, Gill and Linda had us pulling out weeds that were diverting nutrients from the hedge saplings planted earlier in the year. Many hands made light work of this task and we had cleared most of the bed within 40 minutes before taking the shorter route back to the Bridge House for some post-run stretches.

Nice work team!

Myself and Kelly met up with Viv and the team of dedicated local gardeners for the regular third Saturday of the month meet up at the Silverdale planters. 🌱

After lots of sun on Friday, the plants were super thirsty. So we set to work giving the plants some much needed watering.☀️

Then we moved on to tackle some weed maintenance. Pulling out the weeds to give the plants room to thrive.

We finished off with a quick litter pick, whilst a few volunteers took on the task of tackling some dead branches that were blocking the path, giving the area a thorough tidy-up. All in time to finish up before the brief showers arrived! 🌧️

I met Lumin, and a group of local gardeners to tackle some weeding and planting on Saturday morning. We managed to time it perfectly between the rain showers!

Today’s task included planting locally donated sunflowers and roses. And the usual weed pulling and litter pick.

This month’s gardening tip I picked up from Lumin; to keep slugs and snails off your sunflowers apply some Vaseline to the base. They don’t like the sliding around!

We will be returning next month to see how the new sunflowers and roses are getting on. 🌻 🌹 🌱

A fabulous 5 of us this eve helped out at the lovely Dacres Wood nature reserve. There are some parts open to the public, including some lovely cobbled paths. Unfortunately it was weed central between the stones but luckily we had some miniature scythe/weeder things which were very useful. And John had kindly thought to bring along some cardboard for our knees!

We each tackled a small area before Nick came past with the brush. By the time we were finished it was looking great and much tidier. We'll be back I'm sure...

Top job & jog everyone.

A bit of a humid one this evening, half of us met at the Bridge House for some favourite letters (S, T, O, O & D - in case you were wondering) and running, and half met at the task.

This evening we were helping out in Cator Park where the willow arch was weeping a bit, so we refreshed it with some water from the stream.

Sarah and Linda did some expert bucket chucking to scoop out water and deposit it into vessels that some of us fed to the willow arch and other beds.

Meanwhile Stephen & Shauna were mulching one of the beds with some woodchip.

Ace work, team 👍