Six good gymers, including myself helped improve a derelict and unkept place. Strength, was shown through heavy lifting of heavy stone. A shed was dismantled and a brilliantly full skip was the after effect of our hard work. Many, pleasantries were exchanged and it was a rewarding enhancement of the area worked in. Good work everyone.

It may have been (very) soggy but that wasn't going to stop four hardy GoodGymmers from helping out at Sydney Gardens.

Two big dumpy sacks of play sand had been delivered to nearby* the children's water and sand playground which was strangely devoid of actual children. Which gave GoodGym a perfect opportunity to be big kids!

The luxury of three wheelbarrows meant we quickly split i to roles of loaders (Felicia and Melanie), barrower (Cosmo) and raker (Evie) all trying to keep up with everyone else. At times the rain eased off but kept coming back with a vengeance.

We managed to shift close to the whole two bags but prioritised channel clearing at the end of our session to try to free some of the water that should cascade down through the playground rather than just making a series if huge puddles, so shovelling and trowelling wet sand was our toddler-like finale - great work!

Now to dry out...

*not quite near enough

Our visits to Sydney Gardens have increased in frequency this year, and since it is such a beautiful location we are all the better for it.

Sunday saw 4 dedicate GoodGymmers rock up to help once more clearing the foliage away from the two secret grottos. Now these were created in pre-victorian times - a natural reservoir collecting water from the hill was covered over with a dome, into which two entrances still exist. Their plan is to clear these entrances in order that visitors can gaze excitedly in to the 'dungeons and dragons' style caverns within.

Shout out to GoodGym Bristol as joining Bath stalwarts Cosmo and Meyrick were Bristol Area Activator Melanie and Richard; Richard of course joined us some weeks ago to help paint a pavilion in Batheaston.

Today's job was to clear more foliage, there is still much remaining. Long term, they plan to clear the rubble that has collected around these portals to the underworld but the first task is clearing a safe way to them.

We made quick work, with some excellent assistance when needed from the local pack of volunteers. There is still more to do so expect a return, and I can't wait to see what these look like when the task is completed.