Problem with Autumn is there are a lot of leaves to clean up. Most of the time we just 'leave' this to nature, or cancel trains. But here at Sydney gardens, there is a huge task every year to clean up all the flower beds which become indundated with the things.

It is not becoming of England's last remaining Pleasure Garden to have untidy flower beds now is it? So that was today's task, cleaning the beds of leaves in support of the Friends of Sydney Gardens. Deciding not to Leave it Alone were Cosmo, Aaron, Tanya and Meyrick.

The leaves are not wasted, they are all put into the composting process. All done, we will be back in the New Year to continue supporting this wonderful initiative.

Back once again! At Sydney Gardens, for a festive session before Christmas and or last visit before the end of 2025.

Five GoodGymmers rocked up, some festive, some not, (some forgot), and our task today was to lay wood chip on the flower beds adjacent to Park entrance to the Holburne Museum. Cosmo, Aaron, Bennath, Nev and Meyrick were on hand to help the Friends of Sydney Gardens, who were busy removing leaves from the aforementioned flower beds in order to prepare them for our wood chip./

Roughly in keeping with the usual algorithm that the heavier the material, the further away from where it is needed, wood chip is fairly light, so we only needed to barrow it about 10 yards from where we refilled.

There was a bit of urgency towards the end, as we really needed to finish the beds before the hour was up, but we made it.

Many thanks to the Friends of Sydney Gardens, who invited us for cake and mulled wine in the Pavilion afterwards.

You have to hand to the Friends of Sydney Gardens, they like to rotate us around a variety of jobs when we visit, just in case we get bored or something. Recently, we've been weeding, clearing away earth (I think we down to the 1960s now - in joke) and trying to blend GoodGym red with Jane Austen bonnets and Empire Line Dressed (totally failed that one btw).

But today it was sand, as there is a rather rapid churn of the stuff as a consequence of the trampling feet of a thousand pesky kids. We've done this before, and as I have frequently pointed out, the distance from the place the sand has been delivered is a about as far away from where it needs to go as possible, yet still be in the park.

Nay bother, although logically it means we can deliver less trips, but we made about ten trips I'm guessing. Enough to replenish about a quarter of the sand pit, but no more. GoodGym stalwarts Aaron, Nev and Meyrick rolled up their sleeves for what is always hot work.

I know what we'll be doing when we return to Sydney Gardens on the 23rd.

It was really cold when I left the house this morning, so cold I almost, for a fleeting instant, changed my mind. But my committed GoodGym heart wouldn't let me. Also, we're only in Autumn and mornings will get much colder than this.

Turned out to be much milder than I'd first thought, especially in the sunshine. Four GoodGymmers braved this (barely) chilling day to help our Friends of Sydney Gardens once again. This week it was weeding the flower beds by the tennis courts. Cosmo, Emily, Nev and Nev were on hand to assist with this.

As usual, the hour went by so quickly and we'd done a huge amount. We are due back for several more visits to the Gardens before the end of the year, prepping for Winter, so please come and join us if you can.

It ain't summer anymore is it? It was a great one, I can imagine when we are all retired we'll be like, "remember the summer of 2025? That was awesome wasn't it?" I shouldn't complain too much, it wasn't that cold on Sunday as six eager GoodGymmers rocked up to Sydney gardens for another session with our colleagues, The Friends of Sydney Gardens.

We never know what's in store for us, although it will be something gardening related. It was a pretty good turn out this week, so we were Gill divided us into two groups, one weeding the flower beds around the tennis courts, the other digging up more earth around the entrance to the grotto.

What were the names of these six heroes? Newcomer (and very welcome you are too) Nev, regulars Cosmo, Aaron, Bennath were joined by new Taskforce member Tanya as well as Meyrick.

We made quick work as usual, and the weather can't have been too bad as we retired to the Holburne Museum Cafe afterwards and sat outside drinking our beverages.

It was one of those odd days in Bath, when things are a little different. Missing were the bleached jeans and t-shirts of modern times, replaced by Empire waist gowns, breeches and top hats. Turns out, it is approaching Jane Austen's 250th birthday. So as much as Bath celebrates its connection with Jane Austen everyday, this year it's Celebrating with a big C.

Sydney gardens, I was informed today, is not far from where Jane lived; doubtless she would have frequented this pleasure garden aplenty in her time.

For the GoodGym gang that arrived today though, it was the usual red GoodGym T-Shirts and suitable clothing for gardening. Cosmo, Tanya, Bennath and Meyrick helped our Friends of Sydney Gardens with clearing the area around the ruins of the old outside dining room. We'd cleared this earlier in the year for a visit by the Mayor, but it had grown again, all our work undone by nature's persistence.

It's getting cooler now we leave summer behind though, so with any luck it won't grow back too much before spring.

Also finished moving the last of the sand up to the play park, so there was a sense of completion in today's work.