It was the third time GoodGym Ealing visited Grove Farm on their conservation day and the first time we saw the wood anemones (wooden enemies), which we had been defending from the brambles. It was also the first time Penny came to a community mission in Ealing. Penny used to run with Lambeth before she moved to the area - give her a cheer 📣

Last but not least, it was the 100th time Ben did something good with GoodGym! 💯 Ben has been coming to our Tuesday sessions as a group run regular, and recently topping up his good deed score with frequent City Harvest shifts - impactful tasks that fight food waste and poverty in London. Fantastic work, Ben! 💪 While some of us ran to the task today, Ben flew over to Greenford on his new and upgraded GoodGym Wings. He looked divine wearing them - check out the photos!

Despite the rumours about clearing the ditch at Grove Farm in March, there was still plenty of work to do with the brambles. We have been equipped with shears, loppers and rakes to send the thorny invaders where they belonged - to the Hedge of Death (or a dead hedge, if you prefer). The terrain was slippery, the brambles prickly, and the tools sharp (some of them), so Anna from Friends of Grove Farm gave the newbies the health & safety instructions.

We think we should come up with our own GoodGym Health & Safety rules:

• Don't let the brambles get into your fluffy wings, Ben! 🧚
• Don't fall into the ditch, Madhan! ⚠️
• Don't cut everything that has thorns, Harvey - it's a rose bush! 🌹
• Don't pop the dodgy fungus on the tree, Sevan - it's a ticking bomb! ☣️
• Don't spill that hot tea, Jenni! 🍵
• Don't take photos while holding the shears, Kash! 📸
• Don't be shy, Penny - you're welcome to GoodGym Ealing! 🫶

Who would have thought we would grow into 7 GoodGymers visiting Grove Farm one Saturday? There were enough biscuits 🍪 (yes, that's one of the perks!) for everyone, and we all fitted in the group photo with other volunteers. Maybe the numbers will go even higher at the April conservation day? Save the date and sign up now!