...and did we need them!

We were back at Sherwood Methodist Church for some follow up gardening maintenance as, despite the summer heatwave, things have just kept on growing!

Splitting in to two groups, Matt and Charlie channeled their inner lumberjack/tree surgeon and got stuck into some serious heavy duty pruning (not enough wheelie bins to contain their efforts!

Meanwhile, Rachel, Rachel, Florence and Peter (ably assisted by Peter's wife Jane) were clambering among the shrubs (and trying avoid the spiky plant things) to cut down the tall labernums and, yes, the spiky plant, so the church sign was visible again. With a lot of tamping down two wheelie bins were filled to the brim - how we got so much shrubbery in them is a mystery!

Thanks as always to Janice and Tony from the church for organising us so efficiently - we'll happily come back whenever you’ll have us!

Ever had one of those tasks? It was a return to the Sherwood Community Centre for five Nottingham Goodgymers. Louise from the centre showed us to a different part of the site and, wow, definitely overgrown! Apparently, there used to be a path leading to a gate. The big question was, where was the gate! A lady called Carol waved a broom in the air to give us clue and so, armed with loppers, cutters and skip bags Chris (attending his first task - welcome aboard!), Peter, Nigel and Natalie set to work whilst Matt went round to the gate to set to from there. Eventually in Channel Tunnel style we met in the middle and there is now a path! Plenty more still to do to clear what is potentially a fantastic community space but if anyone can......

It was a winning night for team GoodGym Nottingham at Green’s Windmill and Science Centre in Sneinton. We love coming to this hidden oasis each summer to do a bit of weeding and tidying to help out the regular volunteers during their busy season.

On arrival we spotted the windmill all wrapped up in white – not in anticipation of the later England match, but because it is undergoing an extensive restoration project involving mending the cap, repointing the exterior of the tower, stripping and repainting the interior of the tower, refurbishing the sails.

The site’s Heritage Development Officer, Jamie, met us on arrival and took us through to the gardens. He set us to work clearing the pathways of weeds and fallen apples, and we spent the next hour enjoying the calm summer’s evening, chatting away as we worked.

GoodGym tasks often bring out the most bizarre and unexpected of conversations. This task was no exception, somehow ending up with an insightful chat about mummification between three of the group. No idea how that started, perhaps inspired by the windmill’s current bandaged façade???

Well done to this week’s volunteers - Leah, Nigel, Natalie, Matt, Sarah and Rachel.

Next week we're back at the ICCA with the very exciting addition of some delicious Indian street food on offer - sign up here.

Wooooah, we're (roughly) halfway there! Woooooooooooooah! And paint is in our haaaair!

This week we were tackling the most intricate part of the ICCA's railings so far – the double gate!

We were wondering what the letters in the middle of each gate were and I'm pleased to tell you that I found out. The building was originally a factory for Thomas Forman and Sons – apparently inspired in design by Buckingham Palace. Every day's a school day.

I'm not sure if it was the heat making it super gloopy or what, but the paint was still as unwieldy as it was back in the dark and windy nights we were here in the winter and spring, so we all came home sporting various levels of paint coverage ourselves. Rachel had to bathe her legs in white spirit to get hers off!

We also welcomed back Florence and Elspeth after some time away. Hopefully see you all again soon!