On a mild Monday evening, two GoodGymers set out from Stepney Bank Stables towards Byker and Heaton on a litter pick. Byker is somehow always covered with litter no matter how many times we pick it up.

This time the focus of our efforts was the car park at bottom of Shields Road, which is near a supermarket and a number of food outlets. People had filled the bushes and trees with plastic cups, cans, paper receipts, cigarette ends, food packaging and all kinds of weird and wonderful things. We also retrieved what looked like an antiquated mobile phone, a large porcelain bowl, a large jerry can and several empty bottles of wine.

Some people in Byker clearly need some lessons in how to dispose of their rubbish, but we were approached by several others offering praise, which always makes your efforts feel a little more worthwhile!

first junior parkrun of the year at Mowbray of 2026 after some snowy and icy conditions caused some csncellations.

it was great to be back!

Thankfully the weather warmed up after a very cold weekend. Races and parkruns suffered mass cancellations on Saturday and Sunday, but all of the ice had magically disappeared by the time we set off on our latest litter pick from Stepney Bank Stables.

Sadly no matter how times we clear litter from Byker, it is scattered everywhere again within a few weeks. Three GoodGymers managed to fill three bags each tonight, which made the place look much tidier, at least for a short time!

We had a doubling of the number of GoodGymers for our leaflet delivery tonight - from one last week to two tonight! And just as well, as the paths are definitely longer to the doors of the houses in Walker than in Benwell and half the doors are down a side path, so definitely a longer walk! It was a starry night and Rae and I beamed our laser focused energy on delivering another 250 leaflets advertising the wonderful work of Food Cycle, who turn donated leftover food into delicious three course meals for anyone who needs them - all done in just over an hour. We compared which of our fingers and thumbs were coldest on this chilly evening - hopefully Rae has found some energy of a different kind and is now warming up like I am! Part three of Food Cycle leaflet delivery is next Tuesday with Anji!

i visited this park over Christmas with my family and was sad to see how much rubbish was laying around in an area where kids play. I made it my mission to come back and tidy this area up - plastic bottles and canderel sweetener packets were top of the list!

my little wish for 2026 is that people look after where they live and keep it nice and clean for everyone to enjoy!

The last parkrun of 2025 at Mowbray Park junior parkrun and I was Run Director today.

Highlight being told by a 4 year old that I’m funny. I’ll take that!