Six goodgymers supported the volunteer team at Colchester junior parkrun, to ensure 78 participants could complete their run in the sunshine. Some really strong performances and excellent sprint finishes were cheered in, with smiles all round. Well done everyone!

Bumblebees a plenty on late summer flowers at Fingringhoe Wick. Two Goodgymers completed a Beewalk for the conservation trust detailing the diversity and abundance of this fascinating and essential wild animal. Late summer is a time when native flowering plants like bugloss are vital in providing food for bumblebees but it’s easy for us to take our eye off the ball and assume nature will provide. The use of herbicide, ‘tidying-up’ and general human activity can easily suppress the flower abundance starving bees and other pollinators. So good to see pockets of wilderness supporting wildlife on the margins of Essex coastline. Hurrah bumblebees!

Three GoodGymers returned to Walnut Tree House to help weed an outside area used by the elderly residents for socialising. We hope they enjoy their cup of tea there this afternoon!

Completed September's Beewalk at our transect in Fingringhoe for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Spotted lots of bees, birds, dragonflies, butterflies and wildflowers.

3 GoodGymers set out on a damp evening to make sure the FoodBank stays clean and hygienic to care for those in need across Colchester.

It felt like a mammoth task to clean such a big floor space between the 3 of us but everyone set to work straight away sweeping the floor and mopped (almost) all of it. Alexander did a great job cleaning up the office area and Ray made sure we didn't leave until all was clean in the area where customer come in.

Look out for another opportunity to help out the foodbank on the first Tuesday of each month for the rest of this year - their funds are stretched so they really rely on volunteer support.

After a last minute change of location, 4 GoodGymers enjoyed a pleasant evening walk over to the Colchester in Bloom allotment, including a brief encounter with Frazer en route.

It was lovely to meet Rebecca who was visiting from York GoodGym who got stuck straight in (with Louise) watering everything to keep it going after some dry weather. Alexander got to work with the strimmer, an important job to keep the allotment looking smart (as required to keep hold of the allotment), while Ray delighted Pam with his work to rescue some fruit trees.

We promised we would be back again soon to sort out some barrier boxes which need cleaning out so they can be put to good use.