On a very chilly January morning, five GGers met at a much loved community space to make it more welcoming and safer for local people.

With the temperature dipping below zero, the grass was crunchy underfoot and the leaves were coated in a layer of frost. The only thing spoiling the wintry beauty was the litter strewn near benches, under trees and, frustratingly, around bins. So, grabbing our litter pickers, we wasted no time collecting bottles, discarded vapes, crisp packets and much more. As we worked conversation ranged from our tactics for keeping warm, local history and the importance of preserving it, the tastiest spots in the area for lunch and even the best vantage point to watch the boat race!

After 45 minutes we had two bulging bags of rubbish to show for our efforts so we called it a morning. Great work everybody!

Kymm, Michelle and Gus met at Baron's Pond just across the street from Gunnesbury Park on Sunday morning. They were tasked with planting daffodil bulbs throughout a clearing in the wildlife reserve.

The clearing which is getting decent amount of sunlight in the mornings will hopefully become a pleasant sight for passers by on the nearby road by March/April next year (once the trees in between the reserve and the street have been trimmed a bit to allow sight of our work).

Stephen who helped organise the task joined us a little later giving a hand while keeping an eye for the ecologist planning to arrive a little after 12.

Using pitchforks, we first got going with decompacting the soil as best we could. We were blessed by the local wildlife giving us a very earth-worming welcomes in doing so. Local worms of a significant size I must say, which gave us some confidence of the quality of the soil around here! They didn't seem to mind much and so we kept going.

We followed this wholesome interaction, with a more hole-some one: Digging daffodil-size holes with a wooden dibber. We learnt from Kymm of the royal perks of volunteering with the Royal Parks. In doing a similar task, they used some fantsy pantsy bulb planter tool which makes the task a lot easier and trivial. We, Goodgymer, don't like easy. We embrace chaos and difficulty like no other so we got on digging with our non-sharp-ended wooden dibber without any complains (although our hands are likely callous tomorrow). Lots was at (wooden) stake!

Once holes were deep and wide enough and sprinkled (salt bae style) with bulb fertiliser, we planted bulbs in each making sure to vary the kinds in each bunch. We then covered our holes back with dirt. That last step is crucial in ensuring the bulbs are actually protected from the elements (and squirrels) but mainly it was for us to see where we had planted or not.

With the task completed but 2 Goodgymers not yet caffeinated for the day, the next course of action was obvious. Onto to Gunnersbury park for a treat!

GoodGymers traveled on foot, on two wheels, and even accompanied by four legs to the historic Gunnersbury Park Estate last night. The centenary celebration of the creation of the estate is coming up, so we joined the group of residents to help with a tidy up ahead of the big birthday event.

One by one we arrived to be greeted by a welcoming committee spearheaded by Rosie the dog and fellow GoodGymer Stephen. After treats had been dispensed, we learned there were two separate tasks to be completed. The first was a big gardening job on the green, and the second a paving challenge at the entrance to the estate. So while master masons Chris, Remy and Kash began mixing cement and digging trenches, the rest of the group headed down to the green space.

Led by Tony, we divided up to tackle the extremely spiky trimmings cut down by the tree surgeon, chopping them up into manageable sizes. There was also litter picking to be done, sweeping, clearing and a general tidy up.

We worked until night fell, and headed back up to admire the job done by the paving team. Impressively, in just 45 minutes they had managed to mix cement, dig channels for the paving stones and relay them in prime position. Great work everybody. There was even time to leave the inaugural paw print in the wet cement (just don't tell Rosie).

Next week we will be back for our regular visit to Chiswick House when you will have a treat as Hounslow's newest (almost) qualified run leader will be leading the session....who is it to be? Come along to find out!

With the unpredictable weather we're having at the moment four optimistic Goodgymers met on Turnham Green in Chiswick to help rake the meadow.

Goodgym has been helping The Friends of Turnham Green with the meadow for several years. During that time we've had a variety of tools including today's tool of choice - scarifiers and the humble rake.

Goodgym hero John joined myself, Luis and Stephen (and Rosie the dog) with raking up the leftover "hay" aka the weeds and grass left behind by the council mower. Jan explained that this was not just a case of clearing the meadow but also letting the green shoots and seedlings get some much needed daylight. Who doesn't need more vitamin D as we enter the change of season!

Hopefully today's power hour of raking will help the remaining seeds grow and the meadow will once again flourish.

As ever several passers by stopped to say thank you and share how much they'd enjoyed seeing the meadow in all it's spring and summer glory.

Before long it started raining and Rosie gave us the nod it was time to pack away. Three damp haystacks were combined, ready to be cleared. We were so busy raking we didn't have chance for the usual before and after photos today.

Stephen (and Rosie) along with the community volunteers in Gunnersbury Estate will be hosting one of our upcoming wednesday night group sessions, and you can sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/tidy-up-gunnersbury-garden-estate