The task tonight was at the Pagoda Arts centre, a mere stones throw from our usual meeting point. So after meeting on Hope Street the runners and walkers set off in opposite directions with the runners taking a meandering 2.5km route to meet the others there.

On arrival we were briefed about the task - clearing a grassy verge of grass, weeds and litter.

If we were being perfectly honest, we were initially sceptical of our ability to perform a task fit for a strimmer. 40 mins later however and the transformation was evident! All whilst trying not to disturb the tai chi class going on inside. Well done team!

From The Suitcases a group of six Goodgymers ran along the Princes Avenue and wound their way up to meet Roz along the way. Meeting Ema, Emma, Heetu and Jo in the square, we settled in to our task of moving mulch and placing it around grass in the beds beside Lodge Lane.

With hopes of covering the upper part of beds, we were guided and also supplied with vegan food! Sallyann kindly brought some goodies as well and we had plenty of supplies to fuel our various means of mulch moving.

It was lovely to see Pauline who dropped by to say hello on her way to a drum session.

We smashed the target and filled all the beds. It should keep the weeds down and keep it looking fresh. Before we headed for our run back, kind words and lovely cards and gifts were shared with Eimear and John. We wouldn’t have felt as settled or loved Liverpool as much without having Goodgym to allow us understand the quiet good happening around the city and being able to regularly meet caring, positive, hopeful people.

Heading in different directions, we all departed, with four runners ran through the busy Lodge Lane and downhill through Crown Park to reach the Suitcases for a final warm down. Well done all for making a big difference this evening

We were delighted to welcome two new runners this week. Benny and Jake we hope to see you again soon! As well as Laura for her first run in Liverpool after starting with good gym in Kingston.

After a quick 2.5km up to Everton Park we were met by John from Friends of Everton park and we quickly set to work, ridding the wildflower beds of some cherry trees and poplars that had self seeded there. We made quick work of it, admiring the wildflowers along the way, and soon had cleared the bed we working in, making the Everton park mural visible once again. Well done everyone!

There are plenty more beds to work on, so I'm sure we'll be back soon to tackle them.

Liverpool Street Scene Services and Liverpool City Council met us this week to provide 20 kits containing set of gloves, plastic bags, bag hoops and also the creme de la creme of litter pickers which has gel padded handles! Lorna and Laura of Liverpool Street Scene Services and Liverpool City Council took some photographs of us all together with our new equipment and we bid them farewell before doing a quick warm up. With a spring in our step, feeling very prepared, we made our way to the Princes Park of Princes Boulevard. Working our way towards town, Sallyann roamed to the side streets in search of extra litter and came back with crates and blinds. Leaving the central cycling and running areas immaculate as they went Ema, Romano and Beckah worked meticulously. John strayed to the far path to get the pavement litter too. The bags got fuller the closer we got to got to town but with hoops to grip them we didn’t mind. In total we filled 5 bags and left them for council collection alongside the blind and crate. It was a good improvement that animals and people alike will reap the benefits of. Well done all for your efforts tonight, you played a blinder!