8 Greenwich GoodGymers made their way to St Alfege Primary School Community Garden in Greenwich this evening.

Our task was simple: clearing as many weeds as possible... Our main target was the raised beds, which since our last visit have been planted with crops including beetroot and some impressively large radishes. The makings of some great salad there! So keeping the weeds from taking over in these areas is key.

We also made a start on clearing a larger area of overgrowth which required a bit more digging and getting to the root of the matter. We were very impressed by the gardens grapevines, beautifully draping over a pergola area, the perfect spot for a group photo.

(Mean)time got away with us, and it was time for a quick water for the plants and a little post-session social for us, where conversation was slightly overwhelmed by the bells of St Alfege Chuch. Weeding bells indeed.

Welcome back to Olga for her second group run with us!

Next week we're back at the Prince Philip Maritime Museum - see you then!

A sunny August morning took 2 goodgym-ers to Hervey Road Sports Field Gardens, a haven for wild flowers just off Shooters Hill Road.

We met Annie and were briefed with 2 straightforward tasks: weeding & watering. Some new plants had been put in last weekend so after a few dry days they were a little parched! 3 gentle waterings over the session hopefully revived them a little. The rest of our time was spent clearing weeds & grass from the beds to allow space both for existing wildflowers to grow, and new seeds to sprout, helpfully guided by expert Annie, so now we know our Feverfew from our Alison...! 

The time flew by and we were ready for some final watering & on to the rest of the weekend. See you all soon! ☀️

Holiday season has arrived, which means Harvest time is on its way too, and the Community Garden at Maryon Wilson park in Charlton is looking amazing, brimming with flowers as well as crops ranging from cucumbers to sweet peas, and courgettes to rhubarb.

Today was our monthly mission here, and a great catch up with Tim and Edna. Our main task was chopping back overhanging foliage, bind weed and similar tree growth to help make the pathways easier to navigate. (Some long armed tree-lopping-choppers, which is possibly not the technical term, were a massive help with the higher branches...!)

A good old sweep up completed our work, so it was time for tea and snacks (massive thanks to Edna) and out through the woods to the rest of the weekend 😎

...so we did! Along with lots of other tasks at a productive community mission today. A warm Saturday morning led 9 GoodGym-ers to St Richard's Church in Charlton, where our woodchip pathway project is nearly complete!

Our first task was to pin down the last of the membrane, and ferry as much of the remaining woodchip to cover it. Just a bit more woodchip is needed and the pathway at the side of the church will be ready. A local tree surgeon has donated the woodchip from recently lopped trees, so the material has been nicely recycled. Some of the team got to work sanding the front door, which now looks super smooth, and ready for some shiny varnish, while others smartened up the Church signposts by painting the red posts a glossy black.

Our last task was one we're very familiar with, which was clearing brambles in the back garden. Chopping and digging commenced, and both sides put in their best game - team Brambles had a better defence (look out for those thorny tacklers!) while team GoodGym struck for goal with an attack formation (secateurs & forks).

The whistle blew for full-time leaving the teams to debrief & pose for the newspapers.

Great match all & see you soon! 🙂"

Tonight's GoodGym task took team Greenwich to the historical gem that is the Prince Phillip Maritime Collection Centre in Kidbrooke, home to the Greenwich Royal Museums' stored collections. These are made up of Art and Artefacts, and the centre is dedicated to their preservation as well as education within the local community.

Our first task this evening was a nautical one but we managed to stay on dry ground as we moved a slightly rickety boat into its new position. (Again on dry ground, it definitely isn't seaworthy!).

We were then led, crystal maze style, to our next adventure, in the magical mystery storage room, for some ceiling panel removal & replacement, ready for groups carrying out gilding of the panels. Our Man with the Golden Puns did us proud, quickly working out the jigsaw puzzle of panels, and we took turns climbing the ladder with instructions from the team on getting the placements exactly right.

I definitely think we got that crystal and caught some gold confetti!

Photo time with our prop of choice & it was time to head our separate ways. Thanks all & have a great week!