The Forest School allotment at St John's needed our help, and we were ready for action! Led by volunteer Alex, we got to work removing pesky bindweed that was creeping up the fences and into the allotment.

With tools and gloves on, Merton tourist Rachael, Emma, and Jana used trowels and forks to dig out the roots, while Luke and Tom took on the perimeter with spades. Rachel untangled the bindweed from the fence with impressive precision.

At halftime, we split into two groups, head torches on, to tackle weeds inside and outside the allotment. Before long, the job was done! To top it off, we got introduced to the resident chickens and rabbits. Mission accomplished – can’t wait to return!

Tonight we were back for our last monthly visit to the Canbury Community Garden 🍅 and the GoodGym flowerbed 🌸for the summer season. We were joined on our Group Run by Olly Whering, one of our local Councillors, and showed him first hand the wonders of GoodGym.

After running 🏃‍♀ 🏃‍♂, cycling 🚴‍♀ and walking🚶 over to Canbury Gardens we split into two teams one moving a shed and the other weeding 🌱the GoodGym flowerbed.

Luke, Ben, Dave and Marie-Noelle donned their gloves and removed the shed from its existing (rotting) foundations. The pallets it was resting on were starting to disintegrate so they were all removed and the ground levelled. Some old paving slabs were then broken up and used as a more solid base. Once the intricate levelling process was completed (involving a plank of wood (and spirit level, to be fair)), the shed was placed back and contents returned.

Emma, Jana and Ben got to work on the weeds 🌱 and leaf clearing 🍂and Sabir tackled the ever-growing laurel 🍃 whilst Claire went on a run 🏃‍♀ up the park for the rubbish sack. Rachel and Olly joined in on the weeding 🌱and the task was completed in record time.

No watering 💦 was required as no sooner had we finished the heavens opened 🌧 which swiftly put and end to any further activity so we headed off 🏃‍♂🏃‍♀🚴‍♀🚶to the pub 🍻for our social and a good natter.

Great to have you along, Olly. Hope to see you at another soon!

It was back to the Tolworth Recreation Centre on a muggy Tuesday for our regular clean-up of the Kingston Pantry, the area's foodbank. Shelves needed re-arranging and wiping, tackled with enthusiasm by Ben, Hazel, Jana and Rachel while Tom volunteered to don the plastic gloves and separate frozen pastries into small bags. Some rapid hoovering by Claire and we were done.

Susan, who runs the foodbank, is always delighted to see us and even furnished the group with Cadburys Time Outs, which none of us could remember having for ages. A fine reward for a rewarding task.

We were all enthralled last night as Elliot Newton, (that is his real name!) the council’s biodiversity officer, showed as smooth newts in the early stages of life (called an eft) at the community pond and garden we were tasked with helping to maintain.

Four GoodGymers ran almost 3km up the hill from the Quaker Centre while four of the gang met at Vine Close. Two key tasks were set. Luke, Tom and Jana helped to clear the blanket weed in the pond - while carefully putting back any baby newts, leeches and water boatman who were hiding in it.

Meanwhile Helen, Emma, Rachel, Dave and new GoodGymer Sara uses hoes and trowels to remove dozens of grass tufts which have taken over the gravel path around the garden.

What a sense of achievement to play a part maintaining this special community site which members of GoodGym Kingston first helped to restore over a year ago.

Congratulations to Sara for completing her first task - we hope you'll join another.

And always a pleasure to be with Elliot who doesn’t let you leave until you’ve learnt a fact or two, spreading his passion for nature to everyone.