To quote Ruth, we achieved ‘allot’ in an hour helping tidy Newbridge Primary School’s allotment. It needed a whole allota love indeed; the small beds, compost bins and surrounding area had been left for the bindweed to cover and choke everything in its wake. Surprisingly some hardy rhubarb and strawberry plants had continued to grow, fighting for space amidst it all.
Ruth, Tanya, Cosmo and Kate set to the task at hand with lots of energy, focusing initially on one bed, removing all the weeds and bindweed that got in their way. Once this was achieved and it was time to add some fresh new plants! Chives, Rosemary and Basil were added to the edges and no doubt the children will be greeted with the lovely fragrance as they walk by. Flowers were also added for a bit of colour. It was an hour well spent, and we’ve had a thank you from the headmaster for our contribution (true story). Good work all, and hopefully will be invited back to help finish the job.

Once again it was a privilege to marshal at the weekly junior parkrun that takes place at Odd Down cycle circuit in Bath.

Dozens of children aged between 4 and 14 made their way round the 2k course often accompanied by their parents to make it a whole family affair.

They went round with determination etched on their faces and you knew the pride they would feel at the finish.

Our task was to cheer them on and it was great to see the young runners put on an extra spurt as we encouraged them. This time, instead of a giant foam hand giving out high fives, I was in charge of a cow bell. I hope the neighbours didn’t object at the noise.

It’s good to be part of something that is of such benefit to children’s welfare. The junior parkrun Health and Wellbeing survey in 2024 found that three in four children feel happier after taking part in a junior parkrun. It’s not just about happiness – 65% of children said they feel proud of themselves and 57% feel more confident.

GoodGymer Tanya should also be feeling proud after making her way up the hill to the task and running back down afterwards.

We were back at Sydney Gardens again this week, after a mere seven days had elapsed since our last visit. We are very popular and in demand though, and they also have the Mayor visiting next Sunday.

Today was all about the impending arrival of said dignitaries and how we could help contribute to a safe and pleasant day for all involved. Dedicated GoodGymmers Cosmo, Tanya and Meyrick were in attendance and we were set to work by our supervisor (Gill from the Friends of Sydney Gardens) to finish tidying up the area around the Supper Room, where we had previously worked.

Mostly brambles and nettles, there was enough to keep us occupied for the hour of our stay.

Just as the media like to announce 'The Warmest Day of the Year So Far' as we move from Winter to Spring, so we at GoodGym should announce that today's mission was the Warmest of 2025 (thus far).

Three GoodGymmers braved this awesome weather to help the Friends of Sydney Gardens. Tanya, Kam and Meyrick met on the bridge overlooking the railway line as usual.

We were tasked, by Gill our colleague at FOSG, with something we'd already made a pretty good start on. Avid readers of my run reports will no doubt recall the work we've previously carried out digging out the entrances to a couple of grottoes. These date back to pre-Victorian times and the idea is to clear the approach to them in order to make them into a feature.

I joked at the previous mission that we'd dug down to about 1970 and although we made some more headway this morning, we've still a couple of hundred years of accumulated topsoil to clear. It's a tough dig as well, the soil is riddled with roots, some a thick as a dog's leg, as well as chunks of limestone.

We keep chipping away, at this rate it might take a couple of years but it's exciting to imagine what we might find when we get to the bottom. This is more than just a GoodGym mission, this is GoodGym with added Indiana Jones.