👍 23 excellent GoodGymmers braved the uncertain weather for our group run this evening.

👏 We welcomed back Becky and congratulated Nikki, Nick and David on their incredible Snowdonia marathon efforts yesterday 💪

👣 Theresa set off on foot, Dom and Barbara led a party pace group whilst Mitch tempered his natural running pace to lead another fairly leisurely group. We also had a few cyclists, coming from CVS and meeting us at the task so the full range!

🌱 We all gathered at St Aelred’s Primary School where we were warmly and enthusiastically welcomed by Katrina and Freya. We quickly set to work, chopping back overgrowth to shovel and spread woodchip on the path. Other groups were checking on our newly-planted trees and litter-picking 🥫

🥾 A third woodchip vehicle (a trailer) was sourced, which increased efficiency and meant we were able to cover all the paths in the enclosed forest school area in the time available. We almost started on the path outside but the was some debate on whether to wait for the edging for that. We may do it next week when we’re back.

🥹 Looking back at the end of our session, it was really lovely to see the transformation compared to when we first started going there. It was also brilliant to hear from Katrina that the pre-school have already started using it and getting lots of benefits from exploring the outdoors there. She’s excited to see how the rest of the school will use it when the new outdoor classroom is added in a couple of weeks.

🔥 Meanwhile, we’ll be back there next week to finish spreading woodchip on the paths. They’ve also found a patch they’d like us to clear and woodchip, hoping to add some seating and even a fire pit there, which is pretty cool.

🍻 It was soon time to head back to base in our various groups and onto the pub where it was great to chat to Theresa about all things GoodGym 👌

☀ 23 excellent GoodGymmers met on a beautifully sunny (if a tad warm) Monday evening. Our warm up question was going to be the best way to cool down on a hot day, so some of us discussed this en route (anything involving cold water was popular, or sorbet if you’re Mitchell, though we never did discover exactly what is done with said sorbet…)

✌ We had two tasks this evening, with half the group led by Vicky and Nick to Hull Road Park for an “emergency” soil-shifting session with Kristina from the council. Here’s what Nick had to say about what they did:

💪 Ten of us ran together at party pace to Hull Road Park to meet lovely Kristina who was waiting with a wheelbarrow for each of us. Leanne, Paul and Steve were fresh from yesterday’s Coniston Marathon so we’re looking forward to a nice light task. Instead we were digging top soil form a big pile and barrowing it over the footbridge and up the slope to fill two newly cleared heart shaped flower beds.

🏃‍♀ Vicky and Kathryn helped raking out the soil too and despite the heat there was some barrow running too.

🧩 We only stopped when the topsoil pile was exhausted and the beds full before a game of wheelbarrow tetris to fit all the equipment back in Kristina’s van.

🚸 Ed and Amy led the other part of the group, to St Aelred’s School where we were continuing to help them with their forest school area.

🌱 The first job was watering the thirsty young trees we’ve been looking after there, and checking they still had their protective guards. The watering job was somewhat extended (with great enthusiasm), to watering the raised beds (regardless of the state of them) and Mitchell 🚿

✂ Meanwhile, another group were cracking on with cutting things back in the fenced area, mostly brambles and nettles so not a job for the faint-hearted. Not to be disheartened by the amount of growth since we were last here, this team did an incredible job and made a huge difference.

🌳 The plan had been to spread woodchip on the freshly cut back paths, however events overtook and changed this plan. One of the teachers (Shelley) noticed that some of the wooden path edging was being kicked out by small (children’s) feet. As some of the wood had nails sticking out of it, this was a clear risk requiring mitigation.) Martin and Lyndsey relished the opportunity for a bit of destruction and quickly got to work removing the wood from the path and old raised beds.

🔨 Team Water then became Team Plank, setting up an efficient system. Plans with nails in were identified and separated, for the nails to be “bashed in” with a spade. Longer planks were broken up in a manner that resembled the caber toss of Highland Game fame (albeit whilst keeping hold of one end). This method was identified as superior over the alternative tightrope walking approach, which sadly didn’t work on the sturdier planks. Freya then asked for “saveable” planks to be separated for reuse, whilst David did a sterling job of transporting those not required to “the big pile”.

📸 It was soon time to down tools (which took some persuasion for some), gather everything and head to the playground for a group photo.

👏 Thank you everyone, it’s lovely to be able to help this project and we’ll be back soon, don’t worry!

👟 And then a run back to base and/or onto the pub.

🦸‍♂ Back at base, we had lots to celebrate. Ed (slightly belatedly, sorry) got to wear the cape of good deeds for his 300th good deeds recently. Understandably, he turned down the opportunity to run in it in the heat but did pose for it in the car park.

🥳 We also celebrated Jenna's birthday yesterday, with some delicious (and homemade) lemon and almond biscuits. So tasty 😋

☀️ 15 brilliant GoodGymmers met on a beautifully sunny (but deceptively chilly) evening for our group run. We all marvelled at the bravery of those in shorts and t shirts, and then realised they’d be contributing extra effort at the task to keep warm 🥶

🦸‍♀️ Speaking of marvelling, we were wowed to see Leanne at our group run, only a day after her heroic London Marathon effort, and looking incredibly fresh! What a superstar 💪

🥳 Vicky led the party pacers while we warmed up, chatting about our early baking/cooking memories. After some deliberation on how to make Angel Delight (definitely with cold milk rather than hot water!), it was time for Ed to lead the other running group and us cyclists to get pedalling 🏃‍♀️🚴‍♂️

🚸 We were heading back to St Aelred’s School where we’re continuing to help to develop their wildlife area. We quickly set to work, with one team carrying on the cutting back work 🌿

🌳 Another team were removing those pesky weeds that had already appeared around the new trees we’d lovingly planted last time. Once the weeding was done, it was time to shift and tip woodchip around said baby trees, to protect them from further weed invasions (🤞)

🌱 Meanwhile, Jenna and Lucy were spotting and rescuing potential self-seeded saplings to be saved, digging them up from any inappropriate growing places to be moved to safer soil. There was definitely a technique both to identifying and digging these plants (mostly hawthorn) so this was an impressive job done 🙌

👏 All too soon, it was time to down tools (though not before all our baby trees had a good thick layer of woodchip). We heard again about the difference our work is making to the school, especially in getting both children and parents interested and invested in the project (including a recent pupil-led litter-pick, which is pretty great). There’s lots more to be done so we’ll definitely be back 👍

📸 We posed for our group photo by a lovely meal then headed off in our different groups, meeting back at base to stretch and head home/to the pub 🍻

👌 Thanks everyone, it was a chilly one but I know the school really appreciated everyone’s efforts tonight 😁

☀️ 16 great and good GoodGymmers met for our first group run in the daylight! And what a treat of sunshine we got for it too! Sarah from Move the Masses was there, handing out newsletters for us to deliver (there are still a few areas going for anyone else who fancies it…) We were thrilled to welcome back Kai after a 5-year break from GG (due to living in Manchester) - hopefully we’ll see you again a bit sooner than that!

🦸‍♂️ We cheered Steve Rice and awarded him his 50 good deed cloak, which was pretty exciting! The party pacers set off, along with Steve and his cloak!

🏃🚶‍♀️🚲We also celebrated Michal’s incredible Hardmoors 55 achievement at the weekend and chatted about our favourite run/walk/cycle in his honour as we named and numbered off. Favourite routes included some exciting international holidays and GoodGym trips. Oh, and Mitch was bamboozled by the question, before even being faced with any real-life bamboo!

🚸 Ed led the other running group to St Aelred’s School and then the cycle crew set off. We congregated at the school and were greeted by Briony who was delighted to see us. She set us to work on various different jobs around their new wildlife area.

🌱 We had a team of tree-planters, digging holes to plant some of the 120 trees they’ve had donated from the Woodland Trust to build a hedgerow. The baby trees then needed protecting, from litter (thanks Lyndsay!), animals and children. So the next task was adding bamboo sticks and plastic covers.

🌿 The rest of the group were in the wildlife area, armed with loppers and saws and chopping, hacking and generally demolishing every overgrown/weed-type thing in sight. A huge difference was made in the time we were there and a pond was uncovered by their handiwork (leading to the obligatory frog-hunt!)

😊 With all that productivity, it was soon time to head back. Briony was incredibly grateful and said some lovely words about the impact our little contribution will have to the school and its pupils. We’re heading back in a few weeks to spread woodchip in the wildlife area, which we’re pretty excited about.

📸 After a quick group shot, it was time to head back, taking advantage of the streetlights on the cycle path to do some Fartlek-style sprints.

👍 Thanks for all your hard work tonight, it was great to make such a difference 🙌