Due to the very wet weather over the weekend, the Winterfest event in Platt Field's park was moved completely indoors to the Lakeside centre by the duck pond. With no need for the extra help to set up, we were still invited to go along to support the Shakespearean Garden with their winter event and fundraiser and to help out where we were needed.

With the park rangers dressed as elves, a good looking raffle, excellent mince pies and cakes, and Santa's grotto on hand, it was a popular event with locals and I even managed to scoop some Christmas gifts for the family while promoting the event via our Facebook and Instagram social media channels.

I wished Kattie a happy Christmas and we'll be back when the weather is a little better in the new year.

Welcome to Tanoshi for your first GoodGym outing!

Kudos to everyone today for getting out in the pouring rain 🌧 to help with pathway clearance at Albermarle allotments.

Hazel arrived bright and early so helped with moving some good-smelling woodchip before our main task could begin. One corner of the site, beyond a route known as bramble pathway, needed to be cleared to allow compost to be stored here and for access for allotment users 🌿

We had a range of tools including secateurs, loppers, saws, hoes, spades, plus power tools of a hedge trimmer, strimmers, and a chainsaw. The power tools proved very useful to remove and break up the larger clumps of brambles, while hand tools enabled the hedges to be trimmed back towards the fence. The trimmed brambles went in the green bins, other green clippings were composted 🌱

In just under 2 hours, we filled up countless green wheely bins, found the edge of the path, and endured many bramble pricks. With the pathway cleared and the rain getting much heavier, we headed for cover for a cup of tea and a biscuit, aiming to get out for another area, but with the rain becoming relentless, we called it a day.

Hope you all managed to get home to dry off and get warm! We'll likely have a monthly clearing task starting in the new year with the allotment group, so keep an eye out for that. Thank you Fanette and Hazel for the pics 📸!

Welcome to Alice for your first GoodGym Manchester outing, and well done to Sam for reaching your 10th GoodGym good deed 💪

This evening, we went for a litter pick in the Manchester rain 🌧

After covering ~2 km from the big Santa in St Peter's Square, we started picking up discarded bottles, cans, shoes, vapes, cans, and takeaway waste from near the footbridge towards Hulme Park.

With 3 bags collected, we went across the bridge, cleared any litter nearer the park (2 bags) before climbing back up the ramp. We stumbled upon a fly tipping spot near the new high rise buildings, and collected what we could, with piping and rubble also discarded in the area that will likely need council clearing. There was some discarded clothing too plus a small collection of used laughing gas canisters.

In all, we collected 12 full refuse bags of rubbish all reported to Keep MCR Tidy for collection. We certainly know where we'll be starting next time!

Stefanie and Ben went along to the big Tesco Extra on Chester Road to encourage people to add a few items to their shopping basket to donate to the local foodbank.

With fetching green overalls and a stash of shopping lists to hand out, we did our bit to ask those doing their shop to provide anything from deodorant, nappies, UHT milk, to tinned fruit, veg or meat, and cereal.

During our shift, we saw over 35 big crates of food go into the foodbank van to be sorted and added to food parcels.

Kudos to Stefanie for getting out despite feeling a bit under the weather (hope you're feeling better soon!)

Congrats to Peter on leading his first GoodGym Manchester session!

Despite a very wet forecast 🌧 we were in Gorse Hill to help prepare the allotment for Gorse Hill Studios as part of their Green Rooms project for the winter.

We met in Gorse Hill park to collect loose leaves 🍂 plus a litterpick with a couple of rubbish 🗑 sacks and 10 bags full of leaves.

We used the leaves as mulch on the allotment to help the future beds and dampen any weed growth. Peter also brought some strawberry 🍓 runners to be planted and we took out any tomato plants 🍅 from inside the polytunnel.

With heavy rain and dark clouds gathering, we called it a day. We'll likely be back in the new year for spring prep and perhaps at the studios to help there too.

Ben was the sole ranger going along for a few tasks today.

Initially covering a 16 km route to do the pre-event course check at Fletcher Moss parkrun event number 272, where 283 runners and walkers completed the 5 km route.

After dropping off Juno, it was up to Brunswick Parish Church to help out Ardwick Climate Action. We loaded the car with manure and the bigger tools before wheeling the hand tools and other items to the scout allotment site near Gartside Gardens.

We were met with a gazebo for serving hot drinks and snacks. Several scouts weeded the beds and litterpicked, while I was tasked with pruning the fruit trees 🌳. It was no small task, with several never having been pruned. With loppers and secateurs, I made good progress and the longer branches will be used for a dead hedges nearby.

After clearing up and wheeling items back to base, I ran along to work.

Not likely to be another task until the new year. Good session with a good group.