A lovely sunny morning for a paddle along the River Lea, guided by Leaside Trust coach Beate, who got us kitted up with a life vest and paddle, and got us warmed up with some reactive catch the paddle games.

We boarded our canoes in twos and quickly learned how to navigate the waters of the River Lea. The weather was on our side as we explored the River and encountered wildlife as well as other vessels.

After this great social paddle we went to the Springfield Cafe for a well earned lunch.

Thanks to the Leaside Trust who treated Goodgym to this lovely canoe trip 🙌

It was a pretty wild and windy evening in Bethnal Green tonight, but that didn't deter 19 GoodGymers descending on Rocky Park to do battle with a particularly stubborn border garden.

Led by the brilliant Margaret and Ash of the Teesdale and Hollybush TRA, this task forms part of an ongoing project to transform gardens, planters and allotments across the estate.

Our job tonight was to remove some unwanted shrubs, load them into wheelbarrows, and transport them across the park. Working mainly in the border garden, in a large group, trying to ignore the rain, teamwork was the order of the night. Wheelbarrows were loaded and soil and shrubs shuttled across to the other side of the park. Even when the heavens opened, the GoodGymers didn't stop.

By 7:50, the job was nearly done - and the team pretty drenched.

Having wheeled the last few barrows of soil and gathered equipment, we posed for the final couple of pictures.

And then came the reward: Lobo’s doughnuts and Margaret’s Cadbury’s Twirls. Glycogen replenished, we sloshed our way to the pub for well-earned drinks and a lovely birthday celebration.

Until next time.

What did we learn from this task....?

Squirrels don't like to get up too early on cold mornings, so it's difficult to engage with them on the morning school run; they are elusive in rural woodland with fabulous trees, probably because there are plenty of other nearby places to hang out; they won't come down from their tree to play with an eager Jack Russell.

But, they do enjoy pieces of apple; they like to pose beautifully for a photo; and unfortunately there will always be litter to collect in the areas where they live.

Well done for cleaning up for them and getting out on a cold, grey day to enjoy outdoor spaces.