On Saturday, our GoodGym team rolled up their sleeves and joined Jason – the wonderful gardener at Community Hospice – for a mission that was all about soil, sweat, and smiles.

The job? Clear out the flower beds in the Sensory Garden, sieve all the soil, and then put it back in. Sounds straightforward? Well, it was a proper workout! Buckets were filled, sieves were shaken, and the odd stone or stubborn root put up a fight.

By the end, the beds were ready for a fresh start. Jason and his gardening team can now plant a whole array of new, beautiful plants to brighten up the garden. It’s more than just flowers – it’s colour, life, and cheer for the hospice patients and their families who enjoy that space every day.

We left a little muddier, a lot sweatier, but very proud. Sometimes the best way to spread joy is to get your hands dirty.

Nothing discourages me more than the amount of work I see ahead of me. Every day walking down Westwood Lane, near the A2, I thought: this area really needs a good litter picking session. The rubbish piling up, the brambles and spiky plants making the path hard to walk – it all felt overwhelming. Too much to take on alone.

And that’s when GoodGym support became indispensable. Just one hour together – and look at the difference! Street cleaned, brambles cut back, litter picked (with some unusual findings like a broken guitar, a flag post (?) and even a huge throw!).

Several locals stopped to thank us as we worked, which made it even more rewarding. But the best part for me will be Monday morning: walking this road with my kids on our way to school and sharing the excitement of how much good can be done when a bunch of committed people come together.

Thank you, my amazing fellow GoodGym-ers! John Sarah Rachel

This morning we gave the big conifer outside Danson House a proper makeover. First we battled through lots of very spiky plants, then spread a fresh circle of mulch all around the tree. It now looks brilliant – like it’s ready for a photo shoot!

We also collected a huge 29 bags of wilted grass, weeds and rubbish. The area looks so much tidier, and the tree is definitely the star of the show.

Well done team – spades, mulch and teamwork made the magic happen!

What a fun (and busy!) afternoon helping out at the local Summer Festival!

Sarah and Johnny were amazing, keeping an eye on lots and lots of excited kids on one of the inflatables. It was full-on, but they handled it like total stars! (Of course, it was only right that Johnny gave it a test run before the children arrived!)

Lisa was a lifesaver at the drinks stall, helping to serve a never-ending queue of thirsty festival-goers. She kept things moving with a big smile and lots of energy!

Note added by Sarah: And not forgetting Marianna! As part of the school PTA team that organised the event, she swapped her GG red tshirt for orange hi-viz and was here, there and everywhere, keeping everything running smoothly.

We’re really proud to have supported such a great community event – and hopefully helped raise some money for the school too. 💪❤️