Six GoodGym Runners braved the ghouls and ghosts of last night as well as the uncertain Autumn weather this morning to help out Greener Bermondsey! We met at Wickfield House (opposite Bermondsey tube station), where Ilse and Susanne were prepping for the morning's activity. There were plenty of gardening tools, but there were even more bulbs. To be exact there were 400 Tulip bulbs (100 per tree) and 25 kilograms of daffodils, which was to be spread around the front lawn of Wickfield House. We were here to help out to plant bulbs because Southwark Council are celebrating the life of former mayor Ada Salter by planting 10,000 tulips in the borough of Southwark. In Spring 2021, the local community and commuters will see these bright flowers in bloom!

We started off with planting the Tulip bulbs around the four trees in an arch / semi-circle formation. Other volunteers and Lauren planted Tulips around one tree, the two Emmas and Fiona took another tree whilst Sam and John took on the third tree. Sam and John had different tactics in planting the bulbs. John dug a hole, planted the bulb and filled it up... Whilst Sam dug a trench, placed the various bulbs in place and filled the trench. John's and frankly, everyone else's tactic was faster.

Once all the Tulip bulbs were planted; everyone pitched in with digging and planting the vast amount of daffodil bulbs we had to plant. During this time, the mayor of Southwark made an appearance to celebrate this occasion. He even planted a couple of daffodils and took a photo op with the GoodGym runners!

So, if you are ever passing by Bermondsey Station next Spring, please look out for these beautiful flowers and know we planted them 😊🌹

Through summer almost all members of goodgym Southwark helped scrape paint off the railings at beautiful balin! And yesterday we did the first coat! Peter has done such a brilliant job with the space and the paint will be a brilliant final touch to the beautiful garden that he’s created!

See you on Sunday for a second coat!

Wall of honour

Fist Pump to Emma & Girija for being this weeks back markers.

Let's have a recap

Despite the recent stormy weather, last night 12 runners ran 7km overall to Galleywall Nature Reserve in Bermondsey. It was our first evening visit here of 2020, and the rain and wind held off as we set a good pace heading up towards Southwark Park.

On arrival we met Jane and Alan armed with head torches and equipment ready for the evenings tasks. Following Jane's instructions Joseph & Karen got the glamorous role of picking up litter and recycling, Francis & Nedelina took to planting a hazel tree, and two more groups began either cutting back branches or collecting twigs blown over the site after the recent storms! And the lucky pair Ian & Emily were set to the administrative task of rearranging the all important planning and information board, arranging the it into an excellent learning and informative display!

FACT OF THE DAY - Each year the Met Office chooses the names of storms to alternate between male and female and run from A-Z in the alphabet. However, in line with the US National Hurricane Centre, storms aren't called names beginning with Q, U, X, Y and Z due to the low number of names that begin with these letters. Next up will be Storm Ellen!

In only 30mins the ground was swept clear, we filled 6 bags of twigs, and 2 bags of litter. With the tree planted, and the ground for our next planned visit in the spring, we said goodbye and hurried back to Old Spike to keep ourselves warm! Finishing the evening with a social drink next door at Batch. #

Next week we're running 5km overall to deliver flyers to residents in Nunhead on behalf of Age UK.

Keep up the good work! See you soon Team.

Wall of Honor

Big Shout to Sally for back marking and keeping the group together High-Five to Kim, Baljit & Coral who completed their first GoodGym run with us!

Let's have a recap

Last night 22 runners ran 8km in total to the Crisis store in Elephant and Castle.

The good news was that storm Brendan had passed, but it was still a chilly evening so we swiftly made our way up to Wallworth Road via Burgess Park. Once we arrived we met Emelia & Daniella who welcomed us into the store and showed us our tasks for the evening. We had one team meticulously rearranging the clothes rails getting everything into size order. A second team set up a production line organising stacks of CDs and DVDs, checking the products were in the right boxes, then making and sticking on labels. And a third group had the task of separating and re-organising all the single lone shoes from a jumbled pile, into categories of male, female, smart, casual and healed!

FACT OF THE DAY High heeled shoes were originally worn by men! As early as the 10th century, many horseback riding cultures wore heels on their boots and shoes to help stay in stirrups. When the Persian cavalry wore inch high heels, they became associated with the upper class, since they showed the wearer owned and maintained horses.

Everyone attacked each task enthusiastically with an eye for detail, as well as a bargain! And in only 30 minutes we got through so much stock, Emelia & Daniella were delighted and ready to have us back again!

Next week we will be running 7km to support the Salvation Army in Camberwell. It will also be GoodGym Southwarks 4th Birthday!! So we will celebrating with a drink or two next door!

See you there Team!