Taking stuff down is always easier than putting it up. Especially fuelled by the last lonely sausages and drinks from the BBQ stall and cakes from the baking competition. Volunteering to finish up food - what's not to love? Luckily, although there were just 2 of us from GG, Petersham Horticultural Society stall holders and organisers got the job done quickly and we left the school ready for classes to resume, as if we'd never been. And, as with Chelsea Flower Show Saturday...the plants had to go, so many a bargain was to be had once the take down was complete. In summary: easy peasy take down, satisfaction on leaving the place looking clean and tidy, free cake, free bbq, reduced price plants, lots of fun and laughter. Diarising this one for next year?

Five fine fare GoodGymers made their way to the Russell School to help set up the Petersham Horticultural Society Summer Fair. We welcomed first timer Harry to the team at the start. It was a day of pole holding, bunting putting up, table lifting, marquee raising and general fair making by the fairest of fair makers ever seen. In no time Rosie, JP and Harry were in charge of polishing the poles for the coconut shy which was a very challenging task indeed and intrinsic to the success of the fair. Instructions of stand here and hold a pole were duly given and they complied with expert GoodGym proficiency. Joanna was then directing others into the table and chair arrangement and popping up marquees whilst others were skilfully erecting bunting everywhere. Soon the fair was laid out and the entries came with loganberries, Battenberg cakes, knitting, Cos lettuce, spuds, peas, beans, flowers and onions were some of the many entries that befell the GoodGym tables and marquees

Thanks to all that came out and helped set up for the 118th Annual Petersham Horticultural Summer Show! Next year GoodGym will need to enter a Three Pigeon Plot entry!

We arrived to help set up the 116th Annual Petersham Horticulture Show and were greeted by Ken, who immediately set us to work putting up bunting to draw in the crowds.

We de-tangled, reached high with cable ties, and battled with a keen breeze to line the route from the road and guide punters to the horticultural delights within.

Lucy had got a head start on the rest of us, coming straight from Park Run, so when she left for her next task and Ken asked the remaining four to divide into two groups, we naturally split between those already in possession of the much-coveted black tshirts, and those not far off them.

Beth and Rosie continued bunting about the place, adding welcome signs to reassure weary travellers they were almost at their destination, while JP and Suze used brain and brawn setting up the coconut shy.

Another group of GoodGymers will be back later to help pack the show away, good luck with all the cable ties, guys!

Three GoodGymers came out on Saturday 1 July later afternoon to help clear up after the Petersham Horticulture Society 116th Annual Show. Tables, chairs, bunting, coconut shy, May poles, tombola, bouncy castle, BBQ, cake stands, teacups, plates, Pimm's stalls, table clothes and plant stalls were all packed up and loaded into vans at the Russell School and unloaded into the basement of Petersham Village Hall until the 117th Fair in 2024. The site was sweep clean of litter and dust left cleaner that it was found. Well done! That’s a wrap.

Three Goodgymers turned up at 4pm on Friday 29 June to meet Ken and Dr. Emily to help the Petersham Horticulture Society set up for their annual show. For 115 years it has been held in the same Village Hall but for the 116 Show it had to move to a new hall. So The GoodGym was on hand to help load all the tables, boxes, marquees into vans at the old hall and unload them at The Russell School Hall and help start putting them into place for the Show on Saturday. Old wood trestle tables were assembled and laid out and boxes of coconuts were put out for the coconut shy. Tables were cleaned and table clothes laid out ready for the entries on Saturday morning. In a few hours we return to finish the task on Saturday 1 July.

Good weather! In summer! In England!

It's the season of village fairs and we're lucky to be able to help out with lots of them in the Richmond area. Today's fair was an extra special one as it is the 115th Petersham Horticultural Society Summer Show, at it's core it is a long standing show where gardeners can show off their home grown fruit and veg, check out the pictures of it all.

Today's tasks ranged from building gazebos, setting up seating to putting up bunting (a lot of bunting); we smashed through this in no time at all and had plenty of time spare before the fair started so went for some lunch and refreshments at a local pub!

Another great day out helping the local community and enjoying the weather. Great job all.