Worthing GoodGymers assembled at one of our familiar venues - Worthing Leisure Centre. The cafe garden area has been a regular project of ours. On our last visit we had felt somewhat overwhelmed by the growth spurt the weeds and grass had enjoyed with the support of the succession of rain and sun. On arrival we were so pleased to see that a group of leisure centre staff had been ahead of us and cleared much of the overgrowth around the raised beds. It felt very satisfying that our efforts with this area are being appreciated and responsibility for maintaining it is being shared. This meant we could focus on some specific tasks today, enthusiastically encouraged by Albie in between his gathering of stones which were of ever increasing size….

Gill, Ricky and Barbara got stuck in to tidying the overgrown raised beds, carefully redistributing poppy seeds and preserving the sunflowers planted by the children from the crèche. Lucy cleared the area around the cafe tables and planted bluebell bulbs, assisted by Duncan who seemed to appear from nowhere. John cleared and compressed the composting area which had made an attempt to “grow like Topsy” (Surely Belinda is the only one who needed to look this reference up! Though to be honest, if you do look it up, its current accepted meaning is something of a misunderstanding of the original. GoodGym is so educational…..)

Barbara had an impressive go at repairing damage to the raised beds - a few more specialised tools might be beneficial next time. You know, such as a hammer for hammering……

Belinda arrived after another long work day in time to offer encouragement and support and to contribute (along with Lucy and John) to that so important photographic evidence of our work.

With talk of Leisure Centre customers supporting the care of the area as a community garden the magnificent seven (and a dog) made their way home.