After an energetic start to the weekend with a nearby parkrun, Michelle and I made our way to join other volunteers for Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust at Woodhouse Washlands Nature reserve.

Our job today was to methodically search an area of wetland for evidence of Harvest Mouse nests. This helps them compare the population to previous years.

We learnt a little about Harvest Mice (they are Britain's smallest mammal and the only with a prehensile tail) and how to identify their nests. And I heard the word "tussock" so many times it didn't even sound like a word any more.

In our team, we found 6 nests in our patch alone. I was responsible for none - the only thing I discovered quickly was that my wellies were no longer watertight!

We did spot a field vole too after it squeaked angrily at us for disturbing it. After a couple of hours, we headed back cold and wet in search of lunch!

What a glorious spring day - I just had to be outside! First I spent a morning with Sheffield and Rotherham wildlife Trust in one of Sheffield's smallest nature reserves, Sunnybank. This morning's main task was to clear some tree cuttings that had been dumped. It looked quite pretty, covered in yellow blossom. We trimmed them and wove them into some "dead hedging" that has been created to deter people cutting through certain areas. By the time we'd finished, we managed to clear it all and had quite a substantial, yet festively colourful hedge!

After a quick outdoor swim in the sunshine and a pitstop for lunch, I headed to join the community forestry team for some tree planting. We were creating a "tiny forest" of water loving Willow, Birch and Hazel to help drink up the water that collects as the area is used "sustainable urban drainage" preventing flooding.

A full and satisfying day with lots achieved!

Linda, Kat, Gav and I teamed up with a tonne of other Wildlife Trust volunteers to do some coppicing.

The trees needed thinning and training to help the wildlife and hopefully turn the woodland into a more diverse space as well as an opportunity to make some money.

We spent a lot of hours hacking, lopping and sawing away at the trees in sun, rain and wind. Created at least 7 large wildlife piles from the branches and put in some proper man power for tackling a fairly impenetrable woodland

Celine, Michelle and I joined Hannah from the Wildlife Trust at the monthly volunteer session at Sunny Bank reserve. We cut back brambles and hedges that were encroaching onto the paths, then transferred all the cuttings into piles to make wildlife habitats. We also cleared a bag and a half of litter, whilst one of the other volunteers worked on moving some bulbs that were getting trampled in their current position and others gave the frog sculpture a clean.

After a productive couple of hours, we headed off to Cookhouse Sharrow for a PAYF meal made from food surplus and evangelised about GG to all that would listen!

3 goodgymers met with fellow volunteers from the wildlife Trust to rebuild a stone wall outside of Bradfield in the Peak District. We learnt about our throughstones, heartstones, copestones etc. Basically one giant 3D jigsaw puzzle!

4 Goodgymers and several members of the public headed out on a Wednesday morning to Sunnybank nature reserve to help out Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust.

The aim of the game was to herd up and collect frogs and newts from the meadow before it was cut back with electric strimmers. Sadly, the recent cold weather seems to have sent them into early hibernation and they were all already safely tucked away. After a lot of searching only one was found and rescued. Previous years have seen anything from 30-200 (photo attached of last years harvest). 'Slim Jim' as he was christened, was released later the same day once safe.

Once it became clear we weren't finding frogs, GoodGym did what GoodGym do and set about finding other helpful activities. Woodchip was spread and litter picked. Hannah from the wildlife trust was grateful as ever.