After an energising parkrun, supported by a bunch of Move Mate GoodGymers we headed up the hill. We spotted some of the Cherry Avenue in bloom which was planted by GoodGym York for Treemendous a couple of years ago. Then we got stuck in freeing larger trees from restrictive guards and ant citadels. Very satisfying. We peered at the partial eclipse bemoaning our lack of colanders, x-ray film & pin hole cameras. We enjoyed seeing the fresh leaves, blossom and amazing lichens on the trees. A productive & satisfying hour on the Hill, before setting off to the Tiny Forest.

A lovely bunch of GoodGymmers gathered after Heslington parkrun to join a Treemendous session, looking after some new trees. Our job was to check the trees and take whatever action needed to help them. This mostly consisted of securing loose tree guards and knocking down ant hill columns that had built up inside some of the guards and were in danger of stifling the young trees.

Good work everyone!

Yeay - 500 more trees planted! 2 Good Gymers opted out of parkrun to turn up early and help the Treemendous volunteers planting saplings next to the new Nursery at Kimberlow Hill. Claggy conditions meant we were 2 inches taller & half a stone heavier by the time we finished!

The young trees needed their support canes straightening & their guards reattaching / tying on to help them grow strong and give protection from those pesky rabbits. 2 good gymers made their way to help Treemendous in this task, at Diamond Wood, Kimberlow Hill.

A swift change of plan resulted in tasks being switched to make the best use of the morning considering the weather & those GoodGymers who were there. (Heslington Parkrun was cancelled & a number were helping at Knavesmire parkrun, so would be arriving later.) Leanne, Lucy, Mitch, Claire & Al tied guards onto trees to stop them being blown away. Lucy was initially in charge of the scissors & string, but as the pieces became invisible when put down on the grass we all ended up cutting our own. Quote of the morning, "Has anyone got a hard implement?" sent Al scurrying to find a hammer... Ed & Amy came along after Parkrun & tied more guards in place before popping over to see the rest of the crew at the Tiny Forest.

After a hugely enjoyable parkrun (despite the Friday night Christmas partying). Three terrific GGers helped Treemendous. Storm Darragh arrived mid task, but the victorious volunteers toiled together to plant another 500 native species saplings. Footwear quickly disappeared into the sodden clay mud but as per Monty Python, we looked on the bright side of life and so holes were amazingly easily dug and trees tightly tucked in.