After a short walk from the old meeting point. Jen met Sheila, Adam and Sue at the task.

Our task owner Liam met us and took us round to one of 3 areas where there was a good deal of chalk on the external brick wall that needed washing off.

Armed with buckets, water, sugarsoap, scrubbing brushes and gloves we picked our spot and set to work on the sides of KS2 block. We made such good progress we even made a start on Woodpeckers outdoor area.

We will need to make a return visit not just to finish Woodpeckers and complete New Hall but to visit the caretakers cats again.

A nice straight forward task - it was just another brick in the wall that the 4 scrubbers improved.

...2 GoodGymers and one dedicated volunteer attacked bindweed choking some of the rosebushes in the Garden of Remembrance beds....we managed 2 bags full but need to return....

Another session at the Baby Bank and another huge pile of clothes to sort. It was nice to coincide sessions with Sue for a change, who usually goes on a Wednesday. Despite a team of corporate volunteers also being in, everything was calm and we had a productive morning quality-checking the clothes donations, with just the occasional 'Aw, that's cute' being uttered as we worked. Carol took on the most important task of the morning, making tea and coffee for all the volunteers

Sue and Margaret joined a session at Spital Cemetery to help tidy up this special place. Sue and another volunteer attacked the brambles whilst Margaret kindly sorted out a grave for a Cemetery Friend who lives a long way away. They also discovered a stash of empty cans and a handbag...."Can Goodgym do it...yes we can"!

5 Goodgymers joined taskowner Karen and another volunteer at Spital Cemetery for the first workparty of the year And we couldn't have picked a more beautiful day! Sheila, Christina, Tessa and Mary worked on revealing a gravestone from the brambles that were engulfing it. Eventually we were able to read the lettering- the headstone commemorated Helen Poraz, who died at the age of sixteen in 1887 and we think hailed from Courtachy in Scotland. Meanwhile Sue and Maggie worked in the woodland area, clearing the paths and they created a huge deadwood pile using several trunks and large branches, supplemented with smaller branches. This was partly buried with some clods of earth shoveled by Tessa, which will be great for wildlife. They also discovered 2 new graves which had been completely hidden A productive and satisfying morning's work