Happy 9th birthday GoodGym Richmond!

Celebrating nine years of keeping fit by doing good in Richmond at the riverside plot we take care of on behalf of Richmond Council. A sunny jog along the river, followed by lots of watering, weeding, clearing up and happy chatting as we went. And a biscuit to finish!

Thank you to all 591 people who have done a task in Richmond over the last nine years!

Friday 11th July afternoon planting mission in GoodGym Richmond’s sponsored plots in Buccleuch Gardens to plant out over one hundred plants grown from seed.

32 degree temperatures really not ideal so lots of watering integral to this task and lots of watering missions likely to be listed over the next couple of weeks to ensure that people and wildlife can look forward to swathes of honesty, angelica, salvia, dianthus, zinnia, cornflower, lobelia and more .

Lunchtime session at GoodGym Richmond‘s sponsored plots in Buccleuch Gardens: scouting for tasks to tackle during the evening group run session and undertaking a miscellany of saw and secateur wielding jobs.

Chris and Anita worked to create new supports for the self-seeded hop plants that have been coiling across the Three Pigeons Plot. Heading into the overgrown water meadow area by the river, a band saw was the perfect tool for harvesting Willow poles but also proved a useful implement for hacking a path through the monstrous nettles, Himalayan balsam, gunnera and Hogweed.

Meanwhile Ken did a brilliant job tackled the brambles which have become an increasing problem in recent months ( and only brambles were bashed, no plane trees were harmed ).

The beautiful deep pink ‘Duchess of Dalkieth’ rose donated by the Duke of Buccleuch also benefited from a little gentle deadheading.

Honor, Chris, Ken, Anita and run leader Liz achieved best possible performance on Monday’s group run task combining quality, speed and humour to transform seven benches in Buccleuch Gardens at zero cost.

Before and after shots of all the benches taken with added zest!: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKtzvMrI9_e/?igsh=Y3d1c2JxYmVsa2R4

This GG Richmond Group Run session saw us tackling the weeds at The Three Pigeons Plot.

As well as three pigeons and a heron, we were accompanied by midges and biting insects who, like us, were making the most of a beautiful evening by the River Thames. Tackling some of the nettles in the Plot added to the stings and sorrows of volunteer gardening but Liz, Chris, Rosie and Anita ignored the bites and stings and got stuck-in with a chatty and transformative session of weeding, watering and sweeping, leaving our riverside Plot blooming and beautiful.

Good fortune also came with the discovery of a donation of plants (a peony, a rose and an exotic looking bulb ) hidden away in the border. So many thanks you to our mystery donor.

Lunchtime visit to GoodGym Richmond’s Sponsored Plots in Buccleuch Gardens to check out tasks for tonight’s Group Run session.

Also an opportunity to plant some more woodruff next to one of the benches and do a bit of gardening around the Arcade lawn including weeding and plantain pulling.

Not a bad way to spend a couple of hours on a sunny Monday.