Due to the clocks springing forward at the weekend we enjoyed one of our first evening sessions of the year where head torches weren't required! A chatty hour of clearing ivy, brambles and other weeds from around the gravestones while the sun set behind us. Thanks to everyone (including Amanda from the Church) for coming along!

Viv and Sheila went to help task-owner Sarah with a flower bed she has adopted, just outside the park. The grass has been slowly invading the patch, so the task was to free the plants from the strangle-hold of grass and define the edges so the mowing contractors can easily see the edges. Whilst leaving the plants she wants to keep, of course. The 3 of us working for 90 mins definitely made a difference, and Sarah was very grateful for the help. There is another bed that hasn't even been started yet.....

Goodgymers came together at Maidenhead Athletics club to help prepare the site for sunny days ahead!

A track session to warm us up and get us in the mood, circling our task multiple times. An interval run around the track guided by Leila from MAC and an air horn which unfortunately lacked volume. This meant the difference between fast and slower paces became blurred for some. But we all enjoyed it.

Settling in for the task, some recut the grass edging of the long jump run up. Initially set a goal of half of the run-up. We over delivered and completed a full cut and trim.

The sand also received a good turn over with a good catch up thrown in.

Heading inside some cleaned standing long jump mats before ending the task celebrating Jess and Vivs milestones, 250 and 50 good deeds respectively. An amazing achievement to end a great session. Cake for all, medals worn with pride before heading home.

Viv and Sheila went to help Mrs D with the large garden she can no longer tend, which is getting her down. Viv made short work of mowing the lawn, even giving it perfect stripes Sheila cleared piles of branches which had been cut down by the neighbour from the boundary and left in Mrs D's front garden. These were taken down to the bottom of the garden and piled under some trees, where they will make a good wildlife habitat. In the remaining time, we cut back all the brambles which were embedded in the shrubs and overhanging the paths. Mrs D was very appreciative of our efforts

Last night, a big group of GoodGymmers (14 to be exact) along with 2 members of the local council gathered around a large laurel bush on the corner of St Luke's Road and Cordwallis Road. 2 groups had made sure they opted for active travel to arrive at the task - Sophie, Jess and Kelley ran 2km and there was a group of approximately 5-6 walkers who walked around 1.5km.

The task was to chop the bush down to make way for a nature garden for St Luke's School, just across the road. It was probably the biggest bush that GoodGym have trimmed thus far...!

Our task leader brought along lots of tools to help us - loppers, sacateurs and litter pickers - as there was a lot of litter buried deep within the bush! And nobody likes a dirty bush! So we did a sterling job of cleaning it up, chopping it back and our task leader was very handy with the saw to tackle the bigger branches. We worked on the bush for an hour and made a huge amount of progress which our task leader was very grateful for.

It was one heck of a workout and we were all sweating by the end, which meant we definitely all deserved some treats.

Thankfully, the amazing Anne-Laure made sure to plan her 50th good deed with this enormous group of hungry GoodGymmers and Rachel made the most epic cake and even provided homemade brownies for the free-from participants! Amy presented Anne-Laure with the customary handmade GoodGym medal too. Congratulations Anne-Laure on reaching this milestone and thank you Rachel for the yummy cakes and brownies!

I think we can all agree that the task was hard work, a laurel fun and as always, great company. There is a lot of laurel now piled up needing to be taken away so if any GoodGymmers are able to assist please message either Sophie or Amy via the whatsapp who can put you in touch with the task owner and you can self-log a good deed.

Great work GG team!