A warm welcome to Honor this evening who joined us for the first time to run from the Tap in Richmond out to Petersham Common. There task owner and member, Ken, met us to explain the tasks needed to work on the last section of traditional hedgerow down Star & Garter hill that we started last winter. This included fence post carrying, fence post bashing and binding between posts, hawthorn planting and some surrounding litter picking. The team set straight to work including another first time GoodGymmer, Emily 😍

When it came to the time to run back, Ken plied us with fortifying chocolates as the group headed back up to Richmond High Street for a well-deserved rest and warm up!

Hats off to run leader/group activator Liz and stalwart GoodGymers Victoria, Chris, Monika, JP, Ken and Anita who all braved a cold and wet February Monday night to complete an awesome array of tasks that will help GoodGym Richmond's sponsored plots in Buccleuch Gardens look fabulous come the spring:

Leaves on the Line: The grooves of the sliding shutters were deep-cleaned, with all the autumn leaf-mould brushed out to allow clean running.

Turn Again: The compost heap was turned and twigs and bulky items chopped-up to aid decomposition.

Arcadia: The Arcade was swept, cleaned and given a mini-makeover .

Plantasia: The square brick planters integral to the front of the Arcade were weeded, topped-up with homemade compost and top-dressed with stones.

Scrape Moss: Moss was scrapped off the tarmac and added to the compost heap.

On the Pull: Plantains were pulled, spot-weeded out of the lawn with the dextrous use of cutlery knives.

New Shoots: And afterwards in the the Tap Tavern, where Richmond GG’s Monday night Group Runs always start, new ideas for developing and funding more GoodGym work in Buccleuch Gardens were discussed.

This evening was all about member Monika hitting a heroic 250 good deeds! Starting at the Tap we also had the pleasure of welcoming Anais for the first time.

A lovely chatty pace run led the group to the Achieving for Children Youth Centre in Mortlake where Monika was adorned with the legendary cape and presented with her group card. Monika joined in 2019 and has completed tasks in seven different areas, an achievement that could only possibly be eclipsed by her fondness for giving cheers on the GoodGym website: 14232 as of this evening! 🤣

The task itself involved moving the large gym equipment around, an almost impossible task for only a couple of people but pretty quick for 10 GoodGymmers, especially with one Super Monika on the team!

Congratulations Monika! ⚡