4 of us were walking to the task this evening so we parked in the (very dark) Butterfly Trail car park and walked through the creepy thicket to Burchetts green school to meet the others and clear leaves from the playground. We created huge piles (of leaves) and posted them over the fence, leaving the playground looking spick and span. After a very nifty fitness session we made our way home.

This evening we had our annual torch-lit adventure to Burchett's Green Infant School to help uncover the playground from a blanket of leaves.

We met at the Butterfly Trail Car Park armed with lots of lights, welcomed everyone, warmed up and headed off into the dark, dark woods of Maidenhead Thicket.

We came up with a game called 'Rabbits and Fox' to challenge the runners whilst keeping them in sight of the walkers. If I called 'Rabbits', the runners turned heel and ran back the way we had come, until I yelled 'Fox' and they ran back to the walkers. Depending on where we were on the route in relation to obstacles like gates, I sometimes switched it up and called 'Fox' first to send the runners ahead, before 'Rabbits' brought them back to the walkers again. It was a great way not to lose anyone! The walkers covered just over 2km, whilst runners did over 3km.

We were welcomed at the school by head teacher Mr Harris, and by GoodGymer Tony, who had made his own way to the school so he could bagsy the leaf blower.

We quickly got stuck into the task and made great progress sweeping up leaves, bundling them into hippo bags and tipping them out of the playground. We were provided with some excellent tools for the job, including a broom perfect for a 5 year old and a plastic tractor, which Nicola and Jess put to good use.

Sol, Matthew, Scarlett and Emily made unbeleafably quick progress at the far end of the playground and Claire did a broomin' marvellous job on the steps, while Tony was chatting away on the blower.

While we worked, Mr Harris recovered some balls from beyond the fence and Nicola and Jess seemed to be having so much fun with them, it only seemed right that the rest of us down tools and join in. I asked them to come up with a fun fitness game for us and they did not disappoint. We had to leap over a crate, weave in and out of buckets, throw, catch and duck! Sol liked it so much she had a second go.

Then it was time for a quick group photo on the climbing frame, an even quicker weeeee down the slide, a goodbye to Tony and Mr Harris, and a second round of Rabbits and Fox on the way back.

It is always a treat to head away from the bright lights of Maidenhead and into nature. The woods and fields can be spooky, but with lights and friends they feel safe and even magical. It was a chilly evening, but our walk/run, super satisfying task and fitness game warmed our bodies, and the good company, silhouetted trees, moonlit clouds and stars warmed our spirits!

See you there same time next year?