Referred to variously as the viewing point, the colonnade and the upper level, this Monday's task met 72 steps up from where Netherfield Road meets Prince Edwin Street, serving up a stunning view back down and across Liverpool city and beyond. Our task: protecting and refreshing Everton Park's hillside plant life, giving this historic site and wonderful green space the well-tended care it deserves.

First of all, rewind to the pre-task (optional) run, for which we were set to meet at the Hope Street suitcases, as usual. Unusually, however, our expected running route was blocked off to transform a section of the street into a Gotham City scene for horror thriller, 'Clayface'. With no call for walk-on extras dressed in Goodgym running kit, Siân Leonardo and Dan diverted to the foot of the Catholic Cathedral for our warm-up, sure that our evening ahead in north Liverpool was going to be the best view, and show, in town.

We gently stretched all the running muscles we could remember, ahead of a steady 2.4km jog to the task rendez-vous at the foot of those steps, leading up to the summit of Everton Park. Extra kudos to Leo, whose home is close to Everton Park, but still headed away from the task location to join our group social run back again!

Safely across from suitcase to staircase, task leader Sallyann guided us onwards and upwards, meeting Bekah up top, joined by Lucien and Eleanor(Ellie )to bring our Goodgym ensemble to seven, all treated to a stunning panoramic view: Welsh hills rolling along the skyline, iconic Liverpool buildings dotted about in front of the river, and, in the foreground, the unmistakeably cheery & plucky faces of our Goodgym team 😀

Sallyann had coordinated the session with John, member of Friends of Everton Park, and long-time local resident. John began by surveying the park areas down in front of us. A knowledgeable and enthusing character, it briefly seemed that John himself was rather daunted at the extent of unwanted growth overtaking the park's plant life. However, turning back to our gathering of Goodgym gardeners, gloves at the ready, John explained the challenge ahead, calmly briefing us about the two key offenders we were set to take on.

Firstly, the cherry tree saplings taking root on the lower levels, which risked competing with the established trees and blocking the view of the colourful murals that welcome onlookers travelling along the road. Secondly, the thorny brambles entangling the mature fruit trees on the higher ground, stifling growth and fruiting. We added a third offender, in the form of widespread litter, strewn about and often stuck deep down in the undergrowth - unpleasant blights on the parkscape.

Now clear of our specific activities, we equipped ourselves with pruning loppers and cutters from John's car boot tool armoury, together with a pair of litterpickers for good measure. We divided our steadfast yet careful clearance energies between the baby cherry trees down low and the bramble bushes up high.

Key accomplishments of the roadside team, aside from resisting the tinkly tune of the local ice-cream van, were Leo's calm and steady progress slicing through sapling stems, Bekah coming up trumps as our Ace of Spades (Bekah found a spade to add to John's car boot) and Dan picking up a bag full of litter to keep the ground as clean as it was becoming clear.

Battling away with the spiky intruders at altitude were a quartet whose focus on liberating fruit trees from prickly takeover was barely interrupted, but for brief breaks to admire the golden glow cast by the sunset. Choice photo opps aside, their firm attack saw brambles obliterated into a trampled pile of spliced branches, a sea of spikes all snipped up to blunt their bite. The reward: the sight of crab apple trees standing tall and proud, resplendent with the weight and colour of their burgeoning fruit.

Special commendations to: Lucien, whose saw craft dealt with the hardier growth; Ellie, whose determined pruning skills did not disappoint; Siân, whose dynamic energy ensured the team covered ground thoroughly and efficiently and Sallyann, whose supportive and relaxing team spirit more than compensated for the minor injury accidentally inflicted on an innocent crab apple tree.

As our efforts wound up at the hour mark, Goodgymers reunited with a well-earnt sense of satisfaction, having contributed to a neater and healthier Everton Park hillside, all a little more sparkly in the dusky light.

We ended by looking ahead to the Everton Park Community Garden Open Evening on Friday 12th, 6 to 9pm. Goodgym members are invited to the party, as a chance to socialise, catch up and congratulate everybody's volunteering. Just take along a little cash to chip in for the communal spread on offer and share in the Everton Park love!

Did you know? Up until the 1950s the area that is now Everton Park was densely packed with rows of terraces. Owing to cramped conditions the area was cleared and replaced by an ambitious new housing scheme of towerblocks. That housing lasted barely 20 years before they were demolished, having fallen into disrepair amd disorder, resulting in the relocation of huge populations of north Liverpudlians. The terraced staircases, viewing platforms and grand pergolas you see today are relics of the previous buildings, converted in the 1980s to blend into the large and varied green spaces and plant life you find today, the site of much diversity, past, present and future.

The Everton Telegraph is a community newspaper produced three times a year. Good Gymers, along with some other local volunteers, helped to distribute the summer issue with John from the Everton community gardens.

Dike, Clara, Steph and I arrived early so we put inserts into the paper to tell everyone about Friday’s social at the community garden.

Dan, Sian and Sophie ran from Hope Street.

We were split into groups- Sophie and I, Bekah with Jess and Clara, Dan, Sian and Dike got driven away by John a bit further afield (but not as far as St Helen’s) and Steph and Sallyann stayed at the gardens to prepare them for Friday and do a bit of watering.

It was a balmy evening. We got a fantastic response from the locals when we delivered the paper. One recipient said ‘Just say it’s the Telegraph!’ Everyone was expecting it and some offered tips.

Well a few of us met at the suitcases to run to Everton park and the others met us at task near the "love, love parks, love everton park" wall.

But the LLPLEP wall was not the object of our affections this time but a different sort of hidden natural granite wall which was "mosscared" to reveal a lovely place to enjoy the views by Miriam and Dan. Need to get our new good gym word approved by Susie Dent or at least on the panel of "I’m sorry I haven’t a clue"!

While we could hear the delights of satisfaction from the mosscared team the rest of us where trying to identify baby saplings in the grass bank and remove them to avoid them taking over the whole area. We also gave a few trees a trunk trimming or technically limbing up to trim away the baby branches.

John our Everton park leader presented us all with a leaflet of all their events where the good gym team are proudly there front and centre on the cover! We ran home thinking of all the fun times working in Everton park, filled with gratitude and appreciation that we have had the opportunity to work with John over the past years helping the Everton community.

P. S. - While some of us ran home, Naser continued to pick up another couple bags of rubbish making the green space even more fabber! Take a look at the additional photos uploaded to site the final greeness without rubbish!

P.P.S.- I so think it would be sound to have goodgym dictionary !!!

On this beautiful Monday evening, we headed back to Everton Park to help out Friends of Everton tackle the unwanted brambles and trees.

Armed with clippers and Saws we split into two teams to tackle two key areas of the park. It was great to welcome newbie Jessica - looking forward to see you at another task soon!

One area of the park required us to clear the brambles from the orchard, so the fruit trees could thrive. The other, to clear the trees so the Love Everton sign was visible for all!

The difference was astounding - excellent work team! However, we didn't quite get to the bottom of it, so we will be back soon!

Rather unexpectedly there was a bit of an incident when a Goodgym member's belongings had gone missing. Fortunately quick thinking and commendable reactions rectified the situation, and ultimately no damage was done. But one takeaway was the support of the whole Goodgym team, who pulled together to respond and support each other. It really demonstrated the adaptability and team-spirit of the group, and was lovely to see how well GG members look after each other.

Hey team,

We had a lovely spring evening for our return to Everton Park! It was great to enjoy the longer daylight hours and kick off our year's events with John. The sunshine was a real bonus, and those views across Liverpool and out to North Wales? Absolutely stunning. Big thanks to Bekah for leading our team, and to Liam, Dan and Amina for jumping right in!

Our main focus was clearing a patch of ground that had collected a fair bit of litter – think plastic bottles, general bits and bobs, and even a few rogue firework cases! We got stuck in and managed to fill four whole bags, which is a fantastic result. Plus, we gave some overgrown bushes a quick trim to tidy things up a bit.

It was brilliant to be back at Everton Park, and it was super satisfying to see the difference we made. Looking forward to heading back there soon for more volunteering fun!

So how much wood could a Goodgymmer chuck if a Goodgymmer could chuck wood?............

Autumn is well and truly here and tonight was our last night of 2024 with John and Friends Of Everton Park. We have been helping out over the months in the beautiful Everton Community Garden taking out the old rotting wooden raised bed frames which are being replaced. Each bed is able to be gardened without requiring to kneel or stoop so they have a lot of frame! So its quite some effort to dismantle as despite being rotten they are fixed together by hefty bolts and nails. Many techniques were used to release some of the stubborn planks..... some of the Goodgym team crowned themselves as nail technicians.

The old wood will be burnt on bonfire night so we were just in time to finish up and complete the dismantling of the last two remaining wooden frames. Both in time for the bonfire and in time for us to finish for our traditional winter break from Everton Park. Thank you John for all your wonderful tasks during 2024 and see you in March 2025.