The weather was epic this Sunday. A fresh southwesterly breeze and rain-threatening clouds welcomed eight GoodGymmers as we returned to Sydney Gardens for our regular monthly visit.

Joining us today, and both very welcome, were newcomers Kate, and Ava. The usual suspects rocking up were Cosmo, Ruth, Aaron, Emily, Vicky and Meyrick.

We can never quite be sure about the task awaiting us, but Sydney Gardens always offers up a physical challenge. This time, there was a return to a task we had started last Summer. Up at the top of the park, adjacent with the tennis courts, lie two fenced off 'mounds' with gated entrances half submerged in the earth. As far as I have been able to understand, these domed structures contain a grotto/reservoir where water collects, fed from one of the many rivulets that descend from the high hills beyond. This work was completed in pre-Victorian times, for reasons unknown and vegetation and creeping earth have done their best to swallow them up.

The Friends of Sydney Gardens would like the entrances to these dug up in order that they can be turned into features of some kind in the future. A lot of work needs to happen before that goal can be realised, so for the moment just moving topsoil out to other areas will have to suffice.

In fact I was there in December, the sole attendee on that occasion, digging down to the entrance to one grotto and creating a pile of earth. Today we moved that pile of earth into a hole that needed filling.

Whilst half of us did this, (and too many hands etc), newcomers Kate and Ava joined Vicky in weeding around the perimeter of the tennis courts (people were playing despite the weather) to make it look presentable when Spring arrives.

St Andrew's Toddlers in Bath is blessed with a tonne of toys so it was quite a task to give them all a clean. Thankfully, volunteers from the church in Foxhill - including Marcella on her first GoodGym mission - mucked in and we got lots done, although the ride-alongs will have to wait for a wipe down another day.

Our priority was the cooking stuff, which often ends up in tiny mouths, and we also managed to wash a huge box of Duplo. We used the church's sterilizer for the smaller bits and manually cleaned the toys too big for the machine.

Toddler volunteer Diane put her hands to sorting and scrubbing, while GoodGymer Stephen donned the Marigolds and did his bit.

Ruth was not at all tempted by the electronic toys and was kept busy loading the trays for the washer. Children's worker Claire worked on the puzzles and we even found some missing pieces, which was a bonus.

A lot of water, cloths and tea towels were involved. We had to leave lots out to dry overnight and I hope it wasn't too big a task to tidy them away.

All in all, a successful evening. It's good to know that the children will be playing with safe and clean toys when they come back after half term - and we'll probably be back cleaning them again at the end of the summer!

It was great to be back at the Odd Down Cycle Circuit to help out at the Bath Junior Park Run after a bit of a break.

Tanya and I were issued with hi vis, whistles, lanyards and giant hands and assigned to the far end of the track to cheer on the young athletes as they took on the 2km route.

It gives me such a buzz to see the mini-Park Runners giving their all as they make their way round. A bit of encouragement and hi fives spurred them on and a crazy wig raised a smile too.

Wonderful to see GG Helen taking part with baby Archie - we wish her well with her new buggy running venture.

And thanks to Tanya for helping Park Run volunteer Karen with all the bar codes. All a bit of a mystery to me!

Storm Herminia cut our workforce in half but three GoodGymers still came out to help the volunteers at Sydney Gardens. Dave, Meyrick and Ruth started with a group run from the Leisure Centre - actually it was more of a leisurely walk but, hopefully, we managed to clock up a mile or so for the January Challenge.

Jane Austen once walked the paths of Sydney Gardens - she lived close by and attended promenades and other events in the park. So when GoodGym turn up to help restore the grade II listed space, they stand in solidarity with the author.

Today however the pleasure gardens weren't quite so pleasant, given the appalling weather. We had actually been due to move (heaven and) earth to fill in a rather large dip in the ground but rain stopped play.

Instead, we were given the job of helping the regular volunteers clear topsoil and vegetation with a view to creating a path next to the railway. Network Rail has recently installed some fencing next to the track to make it safer and Gill, the organiser, wanted to extend a walk alongside.

She pointed out what looked like a recess for a bench for visitors to enjoy the view and watch the trains go by. Who knows? Perhaps the esteemed author sat there once.

Spades, forks, colourful buckets and wheelbarrows were brought in to tackle the piles of soil and brush. You might say, "What on earth were we doing to take it on in the downpour?" But that's GoodGym for you!

We managed to make quite an impact during our session - although more work is needed to see if the famous writer's footprints will be revealed. (Spoiler alert - very unlikely!)

Welcome to Bath City Farm everyone!! GoodGym Bath's fave place to visit. This a great project, the farm is extensive, has a wide range of flora and fauna and offers an array of educational and volunteering opportunities. It's also free entry to the public so a great morning or afternoon out for the family.

We are never quite sure what we will be getting up to when we go, and there is always the hope that it doesn't involve manure; and lucky us, this time it didn't.

It was a very cold Saturday morning, but the Sun was out and otherwise the weather was beautiful. A good crowd as well, GoodGymmers Ruth, Kate, Amy, Jane, Kam, Katie and Meyrick rocked up to see how we could help.

Some excitement pre-mission as ever dog-hero Jane ensured a roaming dog she found in the road near home was left in good care on her way to the mission.

This was a long session as well, so we were able to get multiple tasks completed in the time we had. To begin with, we cleared the top of a metal 'shed' in order to get our hands on some pond liner that had been stored there. As we were getting it down, it started spilling a load of stagnant water so we decided to let it leak and deal with it later.

Next up was carrying some animal feed to the pigs and lambs across the fields. We made it to the pigs (we were also instructed to count how many there were) and they were very grateful for the food. We sadly stalled trying to find the lambs as we were faced with crossing a small patch of land through four very scary looking bulls, with actual horns and everything.

It's unsure if the feed-group made it to the lambs as Ruth and I returned to the pond liner to finish that job and deliver it to where it would be needed by a later volunteer group.

After this we extensively litter picked along the main road leading to the farm, it looked fresh as a daisy when we were done.

An excellent morning at the farm, thanks all for your help!!

We work in partnership with the Friends of Sydney Gardens on every fourth Sunday of the month, and love doing so. Last week we had an urgent request for help, with days to gather some GoodGymmers.

As it turned out, there were 1,000 tulip bulbs and they needed planting very quickly. In fact, my lack of knowledge or horticulture showing here, it was technically aleady too late as they ought to have been planted last November time. I'm guessing they didn't arrive in time for that and it turns out a late planting won't stop them growing, they just might be a little late.

Despite the short notice, GoodGymmers Alice and Meyrick were able to make it and we joined their regular team of volunteers. First task was to dig holes, and despite the freezing weather this was much easier than we'd thought. In fact the main frustration were stones and roots, but we dug ourselves some good holes.

By the time we left, our GoodGym holes added to their holes was enough to consume all 1,000 bulbs. With any luck, when we return in late spring we will be able to see the fruits of our labour.