On an unexpected sunny evening we made our way to help Stargarallot, soon the light will be leaving us much earlier so lets enjoy it whilst we can. 3 goodgymers tonight, working like a group of 30.

Our tasks were, clearing as many raised beds as possible in out allotted time. Covering the soil with some donated cardboard to suppress any new growth, and feed the worms. Challenge accepted.

We got to work, Michael taking a few photos before getting gloved up and hands on also. We made our way through 3 beds, 3 wheelbarrows of waste to become compost, plenty of cardboard and many many smiles and fun.

Our second longer run for the season, we visited Stargarallot once more to finish off with some green work. Cyclists and walkers meeting us there, and the runners heading over from out City Centre start location. A beautiful evening for active travel and some outdoors volunteering, recharging the batteries for the rest of the week in work.

Today’s tasks were weeding the pathway before it became out of control, giving the wilding area a edge it to stop it encroaching onto the pathway, removing an old cover and putting to the side and finally clearing some dreaded bindweed and bramble from an area that should be utilised as food growing space.

Join us next week as we head on up to Global Gardens to help clear a space for a new children's activity.

A return to our friends at StarGarAllot community allotments this week, one of our slightly longer runs so we had some walkers meeting there, cyclists as well as the usual runners from the City.

It was a lovely evening for a run, and time for a nice chat as we made our way to the task. We picked up some people on the way who wanted a shorter run and then met everyone else outside the gate for the task. We were met at the gate by the task organiser, Camilla, who then walked us around the site explaining what needed doing this evening. Our tasks were;

1. To move a large bench from the shed to a new position that had been cleared in the shade.
2. To clear the area under the bench just moved
3. To put a picnic bench in the area we cleared so more volunteers could sit for lunch.
4. To clear a rather large grass, which was in the way of a pathway
5. To move another bench to an area overlooking the trees and potentially a nice sunset.

It as going to be some good lifting and exercise tonight, so plenty of team work going on. The grass turned out to be the most difficult of tasks as four of us with forks still struggled to lift it - sweat and grunts and it finally gave in as we dragged it away to the compost heap.

Some apple juice, a few grapes and bananas and it was time to leave. We will be returning next week to get on with some actual gardening, so get signed up here and we will see you there.

A longer than usual run tonight, but worth it to be out and about and helping a great group.

We were heading out to a community growing space - Stargarallot, they grow food that goes to the Oasis centre, Tremorfa Community Pantry and Splo-Down Food Coop. Our task for the evening was to clear the polytunnel, remove soil from the two growing beds and put in a layer of manure, replace the soil and then top it off with some fresh compost.

Nothing was going to waste as everything green removed went straight to the compost bins, that had already been cleared ready for the goodgym team. It was all go, as we split into teams, some in the polytunnel - either side in different beds, and some out filling wheel barrows with the fresh compost

A perfect night for the task, the rain had cleared and the sun was breaking through the clouds. Just enough breeze to keep us cool as we got busy, digging, raking and moving soil.

After a good workout of 30 minutes we were done, and it was time for a photo in the tunnel.

A small group made their way on a slightly longer jog this week, to help at Stargarallot community garden. It was still quite warm considering the slight rain, in fact the rain helped to keep us cool - goodgymers don't let rain stop them.

Tonight's task - to help tidy up the pathways, plants had found their way through and were growing a lot now. Plenty of time to chat about movies and what we wanted to get out and see. Of course, Barbie and Oppenheimer were mentioned. Michael made sure to let people know about the red ants, they had developed a taste for Michael in particular over the years.

Learning Time

The Red ant is commonly found under stones and logs in the garden, and also in soil and lawns. It is active throughout the year, but winged adults swarm in late summer during hot and humid weather; these 'flying ants' mate and eventually disperse to form new colonies.

Did you know? Red ant workers have a surprisingly painful sting and will attack if disturbed.

Living up to its name, the Red ant has a reddish-brown body and a darker head. It is a medium-sized ant.

Our gardens are a vital resource for wildlife, providing corridors of green space between open countryside, allowing species to move about. In fact, the UK's gardens provide more space for nature than all the National Nature Reserves put together. So why not try planting native plants and trees to entice birds, mammals and invertebrates into your backyard?

Still a HOT week but with some cooler breaks, a great evening for running - now that's enough of the Weather

to the TASK

As the distance this evening was slightly longer we had two locations again, our usual Start of the Daffodil and then just outside Dunelm on Newport road. With the addition of cyclists joining us directly at the task.

It had been quite a while since we'd made our way to the community gardens of StarGarAllot, so there was plenty to do for us tonight. So ELEVEN of us got to work, we had 6 beds to get into a clear out, some already had some plants hidden like the secret strawberries, whilst others were obvious such as the Rhubarb.

Gloves on, tools in had - watch out for any ANTs, and to work. 30 hard minutes of grafting and we were done, in time for a quick photo and to the celebrations.......

Congratulations to Sophie on 100 DEEDS

Smashed it

Now for some quick Rhubarb FACTS.......

Rhubarb is not a fruit, is is in fact a vegetable. And......one of only a few perennial vegetables that once planted will continue to grow, others include artichoke, asparagus.

Join us next MONDAY, for the next group activity....what plant delights will we learn??? Sign up HERE