On a bright but brisk mid October evening, four GoodGym runners descended from different directions on Maes-y-Coed Community Centre in Birchgrove to do some general garden tidying. Rosie had a heavy cold, but that did not deter her brushing aside any doubts she had about coming along, showing the spirit and determination of a GoodGym runner. After all she didn’t want to leaf tonight’s task to anyone else.

Maes-y-Coed Community Centre is ran by the community for the community and relies on volunteers to run. Classes are held there for people of all ages and interests. Back in January, on a group run to the centre, Goodgym helped to construct some raised beds in the community garden. It was lovely to see how much the gardens had come on and we were informed that an award had just been received for them!

Darren, who is in charge of the community centre explained to us what we had to do, which was generally clearing thee grounds of litter and sweeping up the autumn leaves strewn over the paths and garden surrounding the centre. Several brooms and litter picking devices were laid out for us, but Martin could not resist trying the leaf blower. “It sucks and blows” Darren.

After a few photos posing with the leaf blower, Lucy and Rosie set about picking up the litter, while Fiona and Martin continued to clear the paths of leaves, taking it in turn to use the leaf blower. After a while and maybe deciding it wasn’t really helping much, they ditched the blower for brooms, and were soon joined by Lucy and Rosie, and for the last part of tonight’s task. Four of us working hard with our brooms managed to clear most of the autumn leaves from the paths around the centre.

A great evening task. I’d say we were simply blown away by the gadgets we used, and we certainly did not leaf anything to chance.