Setting off for a run outside a cosy pub on a rainy night may have a touch of insanity about it but when it's part of a group and you're off to do good, it's surprisingly possible!

This evening's 2km run took us through Richmond centre and out to Petersham Common, via many dark puddles to dodge! We met task owner Ken by Petersham Farm gates where he took us through the simple instructions to plant 300 native bluebell bulbs in the woodland, away from the paths. Between the lot of us the task was soon complete, even through the rain, and Ken shared out kit-kats for the team.

At the end of the session the cosy pub beckoned us back to Richmond and the 2km run back ended with a Taskforce meeting in the warmth. 🔥

GoodGym Richmond’s Monday 11th November Group Run was a ‘second Monday’ task at our sponsored plots in Buccleuch Gardens.

Despite the cold and the dark evening we got a huge amount done: repatriating fencing; sweeping cleaning and cobweb dusting in the Arcade; strengthening the ‘twiggy barricades’; weeding and leaf removal on and around the Arcade lawns.

However the evening was really about celebrating Ken’s 100th ‘official’ GG Good Deed, although we know he has really done many more.

And we also salute his incredible input as a task provider to GG Richmond, inviting us to help with improving Petersham Common and teaching us about bats, hedge and fence building , horse troughs, planting, drainage, ecology, woodland management, haloing and so much more.

So we salute Ken Mackenzie. Environmental hero . Richmond’s Green king.

Carving pumpkins and decorating The Arcade in Buccleuch Gardens for Halloween.

One night a year, in the dark alleys of Richmond, a group of unsavoury characters meets to spread terror through the borough as they run to a task. This year saw a blood-covered butcher, a poisonous snake, spine-tingling skeleton, trouble-making Beetlejuice, soul-stealing mobile phone, time-jangling Marty McFly and a zombie school girl... chasing down a terrified squeaking banana! 🍌

Starting with some spooky squats, lurch-away lunges, Scooby Doo sprints and stretches worthy of the torture stretching rack, we also welcomed KC for his first task, straight into the wicked chaos of Halloween!

Following a shrieking run over the river, the ghoulish group arrived at St Christopher's Fellowship and met with Theresa and her terrifying hound, Sam and Adam unveiling their mortifying masks and Chris brandishing a disturbing MAGA cap!

While the plan was to do bad, the spirit of GoodGym was too powerful to fight and the team completed the task of cutting back and tidying the front area of the building, despite cackling protests and evil scheming.

Back to normal next week for more friendly adventures with GoodGym Richmond!

The Second Monday of the Month meant that GoodGym Richmond’s Group Run took us to our sponsored riverside plots in Buccleuch Gardens. Fantastic to have such a great squad of GG Richmond/ Buccleuch Gardens regulars including many who were involved when we first took on the task of transforming The Three Pigeons Plot back in September 2019, on GoodGym’s 10th ‘Super Saturday’ Anniversary and who helped to build our iconic Insect Hotel.

The task kicked off with 10 minutes of weeding around the perimeter of The Three Pigeons Plot before the whole GG Richmond squad headed towards The Arcade and split into teams to focus on the compost heap and rebuilding/strengthening two of the ‘twiggy barricades’ that deter people from stomping on the plants.

Thanks to Sam who led the Group Run from and then back to The Tap Tavern, where we had our Group social afterwards (and a shout out for the limited edition cider on tap at The Tap: Sea Witch Sticky Toffee Apple Cider).

The next GG Richmond ‘second Monday’ Group Run tasks in Buccleuch Gardens will be on Monday 11th November and Monday 9th December.

And if you are free anytime between 6-7pm on Wednesday 30th October, sign up and drop by for a special ‘Spook Night Mission’ in Buccleuch Gardens where we will be decorating The Arcade ready for Halloween.