A quintet of GoodGymers spent a couple of hours spreading wood chip around the fire area of Naturescape garden, creating vertical log habitats, redoing the tyre planters in the pathway and setting in posts to form an archway. It was warm work but lovely to be outside on a sunny day.

4 intrepid GoodGymers ventured to Naturescape in Florence Park on arguably the hottest day of the year so far...

Naturescape took over and converted a disused mini golf course in the hopes of turning it into a nature education area. The team at Naturescape have a new pond and despite the recent rain asked if we could help them fill it manually. Combining wheelbarrows and a continuous cycle of manual lifting we quickly filled the pond and Jo ensured that there were measures in place should any little creature fall in. Overall, it was the perfect task for such a warm day!

Six goodgymers boldly applied their SPF, wore appropriate clothing, and journied to Florence Park to help Naturescape with the next part of their garden project.

The original invitation was for pond digging but the pond space needs more fundraising before it can be built. Instead we were tasked with helping to lay the sensory path which meanders through the garden.

The path is made up of individual tyres, dug into the earth and then filled with soil and topped with a variety of materials; smooth pebbles, woodchip, sandy grit and aromatic plants.

Digging homes for the tyres was sweaty work. They all need to be level to ensure an even, safe path. Holes were dug, spirit levels employed, little bits of soil added or taken away here and there.

****We all left craving ice-cream and cold showers but it was a wonderful task and so fantastic to see the progress of this exciting space.

Congratulations to Samantha for her 50th good deed. Your black t-shirt awaits!

On a sunny but blustery Sunday morning, four Goodgymers made their ways to Florence Park to help with the progress of Naturescape. The last time we were there we laid turf. This time was the turn of tree planting and fire pit construction.

After a slightly slow start (which allowed us to admire the flying trapeze lessons happening in the park) we managed to get two very bulky hoses linked together and snaked them along the path down to the site. With all this lovely sunshine we’ve been having the turf and newly planted hedges needed a good soaking.

It turns out that watering is really quite therapeutic and I only watered my own feet once.

Anwen, Stu and Dan (joining us officially for the first time!) had the more hefty task of tree planting. Holes were dug, then filled in again with better soil, compost and bone meal, and we managed to get one very splendid tree in place before the end of the session. Trees need to be planted at the right height to allow them to root well and thrive.

*It was lovely to spend a couple of hours in the sunshine putting the world to rights and helping with the progress of this fantastic project. *