Monday 4th November 2019
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Report written by York runner
An amazing 37 turned out to help with three tasks in the Groves
We welcomed along three brand new runners; the McAvoy clan of Nichola, Susan and Richard, one new-to-York and ex Norwich GoodGymer, [Rowena] who had met a bunch of the GoodGym crew whilst volunteering at junior parkrun and last but not least, an Adi who we all know from junior parkrun fame and had decided to come along and see what this GoodGym business was all about. Big cheers for all five of them!
Massive kudos to CENTURION CARL who did his 100th good deed tonight and shall run in the Centurion Cape next week.
Sadly our main bulb planting task had been scuppered as the bulbs hadn't arrived but there wasplenty to do and once we arrived at a central location, we split into three groups.
Group ONE headed to the Secret Garden with Jane
It's not that secret, I can see it from the street - Stef
Most of the team busied themselves planting crocus and daffodil bulbs in various flowerbeds whilst others dug up turf to make way for some new raised beds. Ed did the extremely vital role of leaning on a spade and initiating some debate about the plural of 'crocus'.
Group TWO weeded and extended the borders with Sara in the YUMI/Flower Power corner plot, cleared leaves and dug out borders around the trees.
Neatest border EVER (Izzy and Charlotte both LOVE a straight line)
Group THREE ran across the road to meet Vicky and Groundsman Gary in Park Grove Academy where they were tasked with cutting down a lot of willow which will be used by the kids to weave a giant wigwam.
Our walk leader and resident lumberjack Ellie was in her element, clambering amongst the willow and cutting down the biggest branches she could reach. Whilst half the team were sawing and generating a huge pile of willow, the other half dug up saplings and cleared the urban buzz garden so the wild flowers can thrive again next year.
Teams one and two finished a massive ten minutes ahead of schedule and were rewarded with a mini circuit of:
...before running across the school field to help move the giant pile of willow. Anyone that stood still for too long ran back for a second circuit whilst the very last willow branch was being cut down. Tim was in charge of the circuit-zone and had added can-can kicks to the regime whilst Leanne added lunges for good measure.
That's the first time I've EVER done a lunge - Adi
We had one last run across the school field and attempted a group photo on the climbing wall before giving up and doing a normal one.
If that isn't enough good for you, there are community missions a-plenty this week so come and get involved!.
We are mindful about what we grow to provide a sensory experience for our beneficiary groups which include people living with dementia, those who have lost their sight and the homeless. We provide our beneficiaries the opportunity to work with locally grown flowers in social activities which help invoke nostalgic memories, connect people with nature and wildlife and help create friendships, helping reduce loneliness and isolation.
See moreTue 5th Nov 2019 at 12:17am
It looks like I decimated the willow with nothing more than a saw and a Katie...
Tue 5th Nov 2019 at 8:23am
A Katie is a surprisingly versatile and useful addition to any toolkit.
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