On the warmest day of the year so far, Mick, Nivi and Sheila helped out at Ray Mill Island. Sheila potted up some lavender cuttings and violets, which were handed over to Nivi. She set about fundraising, asking the park users for donations in exchange for the pots of plants or wildflower seeds. This will enable the Friends to buy more plants to further enhance this beautiful spot. Sheila moved on to sign-painting to ask the public to keep off newly-planted areas, while Mick weeded one of the beds and planted it up with celandine. A few trugs full of water gave the plants a good soaking and hopefully keep them going until the rain comes

Sheila and Mick both cycled to today's community mission, and met in the middle at Ray Mill Island. We joined other volunteers keen to help restore and rejuvenate this special place. Mick took on the task of painting one of the picnic tables, followed by one of the wooden animals. We had to post 'Wet Paint' signs on them pretty quick, before anyone sat on them! Meanwhile Sheila helped to make little envelopes from old paper bags, so they can be filled with wildflower seed mix for sale to raise funds It was great to meet Mick for his second ever Goodgym task

On International Rewilding Day, the Friends of Ray Mill Island hosted an all-day workparty with 40 corporate volunteers from the Active Learning Group. Goodgym were invited to come along for the afternoon session and after sampling some cake from the Handmade Cake Company and our very own star-baker Rachel, we got straight down to work. Sheila K joined the corporate volunteers clearing the over-grown paths, followed by planting up an area with ferns, Tiarella and Periwinkle. Sheila A helped our local tree expert Martin Woolner put up painted signs which had been prepared by the volunteers in the morning, labelling the trees with their name. It took a bit of trial and error to work out how to hang the signs securely without damaging the trees. After a group photocall with the Maidenhead Advertiser Sheila A then joined Rachel who had been sanding one of the picnic tables. We set to work, treating it with preservative . A lovely afternoon, in some brilliant spring sunshine, and so much was achieved with an enthusiastic group of people

Sheila, Anne-Laure and Rachel met up on a sunny afternoon to help out The Friends Of Ray Mill Island. This was an "admin day ". Tasks were as follows: 1) Lay out newly purchased plants waiting to be planted, cover with wire cages to protect from pesky squirrels!! 2) Mark up all tools with bright yellow paint. 3) Write up an inventory. 4) A special task for Sheila....using her skills to write up the Latin plant names onto wooden boards that will be displayed at a later date. This was a lovely relaxing way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon. P.S. some biscuits were consumed during this task!

4 Goodgymmers met with Friends of Raymill Island to continue with supporting them to manage the Island.

This weeks tasks were more path widening, soil sorting, dry hedging and tool labelling!

Christine, Jess and Nivi took on the tasks of path widening by digging out the extra overgrown edges and then laying logs to mark the path. Whilst removing the soil and debris from the edges, they also sorted the soil so that the 'good stuff' could be used for planting things and the rest went to compost.

Meanwhile Elizabeth was tasked with marking up the tools owned by the Friends of Raymill Island so it's clear whose they are. She then joined Shoshan to help with the dry hedging next to the river bank.

We are very proud of our results and enjoyed the sunshine today!

Six Goodgymers joined other volunteers at Ray Mill Island to continue our quest to regain the path. It was lovely to welcome Sheila to her second Goodgym session and Mike to his first! And everyone certainly got stuck in, cutting back the undergrowth which was invading the path, cutting out the roots and retrieving the soil. We felt like the Time Team, when we uncovered the original stone edging which had been buried for years and gave us a good line to excavate back to. It was great to see such great progress being made