We enjoyed another great turnout last night at Walter Halls School, welcoming back Diana and Theodor for their second tasks, and Rowan for her first! Also major kudos to Tom and Peter for running up from Market Square.

We were on a tight deadline as the school's site manager had to lock up by 7:30, so we got stuck straight in. The free shop's stock of donated clothing was getting a little out of hand, so we were tasked with sorting it by size and bagging up anything stained or unsuitable ready to send for recycling.

The storage room was pretty small and two other volunteers and the deputy head were sorting more stuff in there, so we filled some boxes and bags and took over the adjoining room. Some of our favourite finds were the world's biggest pair of shorts, a toy cat, some doll's clothes (which contrasted pretty well with the shorts tbh), and a t-shirt with a print of another place we've helped, Green's Windmill!

Finally, we went to toss the discarded donations into the clothes donation bin on the school site, which was harder than it sounds in the dark! Despite a few pieces being determined to escape and jump back down on us, we got most of it in before we reached the brim and took the remainder back in so it didn't get soaked in the inevitable rain.

Thanks to everyone for attending!

Sunday 15th Dec saw 5 Goodgymers head out into the wooded depths of Gedling Country Park with a small army of volunteers to help finish their 2024 tree planting programme. Hannah and Nigel were joined by debutants Diana and Theo and Emma who we have been fortunate to acquire from our colleagues in Newcastle. We started with a highly informative talk from the local naturalist who explained, amongst other things that the Purging Buckthorn we are planting was butterfly friendly but poisonous to humans. Fortunately tea and cakes were laid on at the end of the mission so no one was tempted to have a chew. First job was to plant beech saplings in the corner of the cow field - no need for any artificial fertiliser in that space. We were then asked to spread out and venture into the woods, find a small clearing and plant out the remaining beech trees. When we returned to the path Diana and Theo were missing - the Park is nearly 600 acres so we started to get concerned and were just asking the Duke of Edinburgh candidates if they had done their search and rescue training yet when our two latest recruits appeared, safe and sound. Onwards to the butterfly meadow to plant out the aforementioned Purging Buckthorn in the hope that next summer Brimstone Butterfly will return to the park.

Thank you to the regular volunteers and trustees who made us very welcome and invited us back any Sunday to support their impressive and valuable work.