Five of us headed to Aldermoor Farm yesterday evening for a leafy challenge. The job was to clear up the leaves from the grassy area, load them into the wheelbarrow, and take them down to the chicken coops. We tipped the piles onto the muddy floor so they could soak up some of the mess and give the chickens something fun to scratch around in. We didn’t see the chickens—they were tucked up for the night—but we hope they woke up to a nice surprise this morning! There were a few laughs along the way, especially when Sarah got her hand stuck in the leaf grabbers (all good now!). Once the work was done, we admired the farm glowing with Christmas lights—a festive finish to a muddy but satisfying task.

This evening we gave the hedge a good trim, sifted soil ready for seedlings and turned one of the compost bays 😊

On a mild evening we gathered for our first after-dark task session on the farm. We tackled a laurel of jobs—moving logs, cutting back dense laurel growth, clearing a goose enclosure by rolling up the electric fence and raking up the straw. We tore cardboard for compost and trimmed the hedge! It was a productive and satisfying evening, made even more special by welcoming a new member, Suzanne, to the team. We’re delighted she joined us and hope she had a great time getting stuck in with the GG team!

Ten brilliant volunteers turned up at Aldermoor this evening ready to tackle nature head-on—and tackle they did! Finn, Laura, and Derek gave the entrance hedge a sharp new look, while Sarah, Amanda, Beck, and Ronna took on the wild willow by the pond, cutting it back and hauling the branches to the chipper like absolute pros. Meanwhile, Ellie and Anna (with a cameo from Wilson) took on the compost bay transfer— never did we think the whole bay could be done, but Ellie and co were determined and they powered through until the task was complete! Laura and Amanda also got stuck into tearing cardboard for future composting. It was fantastic to see Anna, Beck, and Ronna back for round two, and even better to wrap up with a sliver of daylight—possibly our last light-filled task of the season! Great job everyone!

Tonight we returned to Aldermoor Farm for a slimy adventure: a slug and snail hunt! Richard greeted us with expert tips on how to track down our slippery targets, and then we were off - headlamps on, eyes peeled, and spirits high. I think it was Ronna that kicked off our hunt, finding the first slug!

Along the way, we were treated to a magical evening soundtrack of hooting owls and even spotted a fox darting through the undergrowth. The hunt itself was full of squeals - some of delight, others of mild horror as slugs emerged from their hiding spots.

Julia and Yujiu proved to be top-tier slug spotters, uncovering some impressively chunky specimens. We also had a fun language exchange, swapping the English and Chinese names for a woodlouse. Beck, a spider 'enthusiast', kept us informed about the eight-legged friends we encountered.

Wilson joined a little later and struck gold, or rather, goo - finding the biggest slug pile of the night nestled on a piece of old fruit. Claire and Sarah bravely stepped in to do the slimy honours of collecting them!

By the end of the evening, we had amassed a glistening pile of slugs and snails - lucky ducks indeed!

A warm welcome to Yujiu, Ronna, and Beck on their first GoodGym session. We hope to see you again soon!

This evening, six GoodGym volunteers headed to Aldermoor Community Farm to lend a hand with some much-needed hedge trimming. Armed with shears and plenty of enthusiasm, we tackled the overgrown hedge along the farm’s boundary. In just one hour, we managed to complete the task - our best effort yet! It was a satisfying job that combined teamwork, fresh air, and a good arm workout!

Kudos to Ellie and Abby for running 4 miles to the task and to Robert for an hours walk!