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!

Report to follow

I headed over to meet Mr D’s son on a lovely sunny Friday lunchtime.

When I got there Mr D’s son greeted me with a warm welcome. He had some small tools ready so I could get started on trimming back the plants and bushes in his parents garden, while he made them something to eat.

The hour passed really quickly and Mr D’s son R was very happy to see the bushes pruned and the front garden cleared. Just as I was packing up to leave Mr R started motioning to something in the porch, 4 large paws padded out of the door and I was treated to the nicest cuddles from the bestest boy.

If Goodgym did missions ending with a cuddle with this beautiful 7 year old retriever we’d all be racing to the top of the Goodgym heroes board every week!

I arrived at Mr J and Mrs A’s house in Osterley to pick up where a previous Goodgymer had begun, trimming bushes and cutting back brambles, a few weeks ago.

Today’s easy squeezy challenge was to shred as much of the leftover brambles a previous Goodgymer had had to leave behind because they’d filled the garden waste bin the last time they were here. The pile had diminished a little bit but still the extent of their work was obvious.

Surfice to say I couldn’t possibly emulate the most efficient and diminutive Goodgymer in the West of London. But I did manage to condense the older brambles and add a further somewhat diminutive pile of my own.

As there is still lots to do and there was only time for any hour’s gardening today, I’ll be heading back to Mr J’s next week for part III, weather permitting.

Maybe the next instalment of the Osterley garden trilogy will be as entertaining as the original task report which you can read here https://www.goodgym.org/v3/reports/applied-squeezology

If you are all about the dramatic before and after pics then this the run report for you!

Despite the grey skies, nine GGers met at Chiswick Allotments to carry out a couple of big tasks that had a transformative effect on a widely used local resource.

We met with Kouroush, who is chair of the allotments, who divided us up into two groups. One to tackle the road that leads to the plots and one in the yard in front of the shed.

Georgia, Alan, Jon, Michelle and Lucy (once she had scaled the wall) got started on pulling up all the weeds encroaching on the length of the path. From overgrown and messy to clear, clean and tidy - what a difference! Now the entrance to this community space will look so much more cared for and welcoming.

Meanwhile the dream team of Kash, Divya and Gus were tackling the yard. Spades and forks were simply not the one, and within minutes they were dispatched in favour of loppers and shears. Watching out for wildlife they got to it, cutting down ivy and clearing weeds. In between snail talk, RSPB membership, tales of Ealing tasks and even a restaurant recommendation or two, wheelbarrows full of waste was filled. Have a look at the amazing after photos to see just what was achieved. And if that wasn't proof enough then have a look at the photos of Gus' pristine white gloves pre and post task!

There is a community mission which could do with some extra help this weekend, so if you're free why not sign up to this gardening task at Harvard Hill. Happy GGing one and all!

Steph ran from Acton Junior Parkrun to Mrs M house as needed some items to be done in the back garden. Amongst the weed/nettles that was intruding, Mrs M wanted some trimming to be done and also remove some of the ornamental grass and weeping bushes that were taking over some of her plants. Sting operation and all the nettles were removed! ! No crying when the weeping bushes were trimmed/removed. The challenge was on with the ornamental grass that was firmly rooted in the garden : Mrs M did not understand how it came there and how big it has grown. The leaves were not left behind. In the end, we had a full bin of not wanted green items and Mrs M was happy and enjoyed spending some time outside in the sun with Steph and chatting of when she was younger and running a lot herself.