It was our first visit back at Gunnersbury park for 2025, and we had a big challenge in store. In the chilly weather we've been having, a big physical task was just what we needed!

With GGers coming from all over the borough and beyond, we met at a location in the depths of the park to find a massive pile of wood chips waiting for us. Before we could get started we were given a very thorough risk assessment by Jacob, one of the lead gardeners, and were even treated to a rather stylish high vis to wear.

Dividing into groups, we grabbed barrows and spades and got stuck in. As usual, we chatted while we worked, which made the time fly by. Conversations were as varied as ever, from parkrun to training plans and even some rather interesting Guinness world record attempts...

It's amazing to see what can be done when so many people work together, and we had a very efficient spade/barrow system in place. Before long the piles had been decimated and we had several crisp new paths to show for our efforts.

Hard work done, all that was left were the celebrations! Timed to perfection, just before Gus leaves us for a month for glamourous Milan, he achieved his 50 good deed milestone - congratulations! He's gone through several pairs of gardening gloves, managed to do a month of daily 5kms, has forged a brand new cycling habit and has done so much good over those 50 sessions. To mark the occasion Emily made the lemon drizzle to end all lemon drizzles!

If you're looking for some more GoodGym fun this weekend then why not head down to Chiswick eyot to help with cutting and weaving - it's a very fun task if you don't mind a bit of mud!

Also keep an eye on the January challenge - we're doing well but there's still a way to go! What better incentive to book yourself into your next GG session....

On a very chilly January morning, five GGers met at a much loved community space to make it more welcoming and safer for local people.

With the temperature dipping below zero, the grass was crunchy underfoot and the leaves were coated in a layer of frost. The only thing spoiling the wintry beauty was the litter strewn near benches, under trees and, frustratingly, around bins. So, grabbing our litter pickers, we wasted no time collecting bottles, discarded vapes, crisp packets and much more. As we worked conversation ranged from our tactics for keeping warm, local history and the importance of preserving it, the tastiest spots in the area for lunch and even the best vantage point to watch the boat race!

After 45 minutes we had two bulging bags of rubbish to show for our efforts so we called it a morning. Great work everybody!

Kymm, Michelle and Gus met at Baron's Pond just across the street from Gunnesbury Park on Sunday morning. They were tasked with planting daffodil bulbs throughout a clearing in the wildlife reserve.

The clearing which is getting decent amount of sunlight in the mornings will hopefully become a pleasant sight for passers by on the nearby road by March/April next year (once the trees in between the reserve and the street have been trimmed a bit to allow sight of our work).

Stephen who helped organise the task joined us a little later giving a hand while keeping an eye for the ecologist planning to arrive a little after 12.

Using pitchforks, we first got going with decompacting the soil as best we could. We were blessed by the local wildlife giving us a very earth-worming welcomes in doing so. Local worms of a significant size I must say, which gave us some confidence of the quality of the soil around here! They didn't seem to mind much and so we kept going.

We followed this wholesome interaction, with a more hole-some one: Digging daffodil-size holes with a wooden dibber. We learnt from Kymm of the royal perks of volunteering with the Royal Parks. In doing a similar task, they used some fantsy pantsy bulb planter tool which makes the task a lot easier and trivial. We, Goodgymer, don't like easy. We embrace chaos and difficulty like no other so we got on digging with our non-sharp-ended wooden dibber without any complains (although our hands are likely callous tomorrow). Lots was at (wooden) stake!

Once holes were deep and wide enough and sprinkled (salt bae style) with bulb fertiliser, we planted bulbs in each making sure to vary the kinds in each bunch. We then covered our holes back with dirt. That last step is crucial in ensuring the bulbs are actually protected from the elements (and squirrels) but mainly it was for us to see where we had planted or not.

With the task completed but 2 Goodgymers not yet caffeinated for the day, the next course of action was obvious. Onto to Gunnersbury park for a treat!

GoodGymers traveled on foot, on two wheels, and even accompanied by four legs to the historic Gunnersbury Park Estate last night. The centenary celebration of the creation of the estate is coming up, so we joined the group of residents to help with a tidy up ahead of the big birthday event.

One by one we arrived to be greeted by a welcoming committee spearheaded by Rosie the dog and fellow GoodGymer Stephen. After treats had been dispensed, we learned there were two separate tasks to be completed. The first was a big gardening job on the green, and the second a paving challenge at the entrance to the estate. So while master masons Chris, Remy and Kash began mixing cement and digging trenches, the rest of the group headed down to the green space.

Led by Tony, we divided up to tackle the extremely spiky trimmings cut down by the tree surgeon, chopping them up into manageable sizes. There was also litter picking to be done, sweeping, clearing and a general tidy up.

We worked until night fell, and headed back up to admire the job done by the paving team. Impressively, in just 45 minutes they had managed to mix cement, dig channels for the paving stones and relay them in prime position. Great work everybody. There was even time to leave the inaugural paw print in the wet cement (just don't tell Rosie).

Next week we will be back for our regular visit to Chiswick House when you will have a treat as Hounslow's newest (almost) qualified run leader will be leading the session....who is it to be? Come along to find out!