Six goodgymers supported the volunteer team at Colchester junior parkrun, to ensure 78 participants could complete their run in the sunshine. Some really strong performances and excellent sprint finishes were cheered in, with smiles all round. Well done everyone!

Bumblebees a plenty on late summer flowers at Fingringhoe Wick. Two Goodgymers completed a Beewalk for the conservation trust detailing the diversity and abundance of this fascinating and essential wild animal. Late summer is a time when native flowering plants like bugloss are vital in providing food for bumblebees but it’s easy for us to take our eye off the ball and assume nature will provide. The use of herbicide, ‘tidying-up’ and general human activity can easily suppress the flower abundance starving bees and other pollinators. So good to see pockets of wilderness supporting wildlife on the margins of Essex coastline. Hurrah bumblebees!

It is with some relief that two Goodgymers were able to observe wild bees foraging in at least a quarter of a ‘beewalk’ at Fingringhoe Wick NR in Essex. Calamint flowers proving irresistible to this vitality important animal species. You can contribute too through the Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s ‘beewalk’ scheme to gather data. Discover, learn and contribute. Wumnage in da undergwoth!

A lovely evening for getting some extra steps in to tend Pam's allotment. Louise, Ray and Alex headed north via a meet up at the Mercury, whereas Stu and Helen took a short cut. We divided up the tasks, grabbed some tools and got stuck in. Louise made the plot look super tidy by strimming, Ray bravely tackled the prickly brambles which had popped up everywhere, Alex made a dozen trips to the water tank, and gave everything a really good drink, Stu weeded the vegetable beds, and unearthed a surprised beetroot, and a very tall chard, and Helen weeded the potatoes and corn. The allotment looked much better and Pam was really grateful for our efforts. Well done everyone 👏 👍

What better weather to spend a morning citizen science-ing to support our much needed wildlife. This time Helen’s keen eyes may have spotted a Brown Belted Carder. A rare sight indeed. Go you tiny heroes!