High fives for the great group who got up early on Sunday for some sociable hedge trimming.

Our job was to cut back overgrowth to improve visibility from marshal points 2 to 4 at junior parkrun. When we started it was more a case of visibili-tree than visibility.

Kudos to Liv for running 7miles to the task and still having energy to marshal at parkrun afterwards.

Phil and Sheila made an early start to look out for nesting birds and focussed on the Eastern end of the path.

On the Western front we took turns standing in the marshal spots to help us find the right bits to cut back.

We made great progress but concluded at the end that perfect line of sight is not possible without digging up some of the trees and hedges completely.

Marshals at point 4 will need to take a couple of steps back to wave at their buddies at point 3.

That's fewer steps than they would have needed last week though!

Ten of us joined fellow GGer and task owner Nivi at Ray Mill Island on a perfect summer evening. Our task was to paint some murals on the paths to make them pop!

Some got going with cleaning the path for the artwork, while others chose what they wanted to draw from various drawings that Nivi had chosen. Chalks and paints in hand, the more skilled ones drew out the murals, some tested their drawings for accuracy (see the hopscotch-ers), and then everyone joined in with paints and brushes.

Universally hailed as the most fun task in a long time, it was hard to pull people away from it. Some stayed back a bit longer to finish their handiwork.

12 GoodGymers met on a warm, sunny evening to continue bashing the invasive Balsams so they don't overwhelm the biodiversity of the riverbanks and neighbouring farmlands.

We welcomed Claire who's restarting her GG adventures in Maidenhead having done plenty of good work in Islington. Along with Claire, we had another new face - young Phoebe, a first timer who's in town for her Uni break.

Jess, currently undergoing the Fitness Leader training, took over to lead an active travel session. After a security briefing which included crossing the road safely, she led us down the Thames path to the bashing arena. Before entereing the woods, a quick pit stop was needed for everyone to put on protective layers against the prickly nettles.

Here, Jess cautioned us about safely navigating the broken fence, the uprooted tree, the other uprooted tree with the barbed wire and the low hanging trees (and the nettles!). Forewarned and overdressed, we proceeded to the clearing to resume the balsam bashing.

Time flew by as we chatted, uprooted, sweated, yelped at being pricked and had a grand old time. On the hour, we headed back and ended the evening with some stretches in the light of the setting sun.

Thanks to Georgeta for the lovely photos and Kanika, for being the Back Marker.

Litter pick instead of a dog walk as flora had a cut paw Some kind litter lout has left new roll of bags for our next litter pick

the weather gods smiles on us today as 7 of goodgyms finest made their way to Holyport FC to strim/ prune/ pluck and cut all of the overgrown foliage at the club

Tony expertly wielded the strimmer and everyone else chose their own tools to complete the task at hand

Once our bushes were neatly trimmed we made our way home to rest until next time

Tonight's top team of Balsam Bashers met at Boulter's Lock and before we set off important business needed to be taken care of! Firstly we welcomed first timers Phil and Mary and secondly, Georgeta has completed a huge 500 Good Deeds and she was presented with her special medal, adorned with a special ring found during a sludgy pond clearing mission, and her royal cape!

The team then set off on a chatty 1km walk to Battlemead where the balsam awaited us. We snuck over the fence and through the forest of stinging nettles to the middle of the area. Here Amy reminded us of what we were looking for and then the Balsam bashing began! The Goodgym locust swarm swept through the area relieving the ground of the balsam with a satisfying 'pop'. We found the balsam was bigger round the reeds in the wetter land and had soon pulled up handfuls and helped to stop the invasive species spreading further!

Satisfied with our efforts but knowing there is lots more hiding amongst the nettles we headed back along the river. However, we can't acknowledge a Good Deed milestone without some cake and Amy was the baker tonight! We tucked in as Amy read us some words from Sheila about the amazing selfless volunteering Georgeta has done in the area and especially the social visits which have proved a lifeline to older residents. She is a shining star!!