Four Goodgymers met on an overcast Tuesday to help York Archaeology close down their community archaeology site for winter. Our main task was to shovel dirt into wheelbarrows in order to backfill one of the trenches, covering up any potential future finds until spring - anti-archaeology perhaps?

We got a good arm work-out in eliminating our pile of dirt, and it was interesting to learn more about the project, which includes the Archaeology on Prescription scheme.

We helped York Archaeological trust tidy up an area around their new training trench and the front of their site. We started by helping sweep up some pine needles and cones and then moved onto trimming back the bushes and brambles at the front of the building. James and Debs tried to problem solve how to trim the top of a really tall shrub. Debs reassured James as he was reaching with a long pair of clippers by saying: "At least it it's 6 feet on the air you can't chop your fingers off." After we finished we got to see the small area they had started to excavate on their new training trench. She said they had found evidence of Victorian and medieval so far. They had begun to excavate a clay lined pit. Abi asked an obscure question about dog types which surprisingly got a detailed and knowledgeable response. Apparently Georgian dogs had the same range of sizes as dogs today. They used to have special short legged dogs that could run under the spit.

27 excellent GoodGymmers met on a pleasant Monday evening for this evening's group run.

👋🏼 We gave a huge welcome to Martin on his first GoodGym task.

🦸🏼‍♀️🦸‍♂️We also had two caped GoodGym heroes - tonight was Louise's 100th good deed and John's 300th! Huge congratulations to both of you.

🙌🏼 And if that wasn't enough, we had mega kudos to give to lots of runners who ran excellent races in both Kielder and Dalby Forest. *What a week! *

🚶‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️The walking group, led by Leanne, was a popular option this week, while Pete and Nicky (mostly Pete) led the running group, after a quick warm up.

To the task

We were met at Willow House Garden by Rachel and her colleague who helpfully provided tools and bags.

"Get rid of everything"

🌿That was the instruction and we didn't need telling twice. There was some enthusiastic pruning (hacking?!), sawing, sweeping and even a bit of topiary! In half an hour, the area looked well-shorn and Rachel was very happy with the result.

📸 After a quick group photo, we did some game-based fitness, using the classic Rock, Paper, Scissors and Stuck in the Mud. Before we knew it, the walking and running groups were ready to head back for a cool down and stretch.

👏🏼 Back at base, a huge thank you was given to Michal for everything he's done as Area Activator, including through a beautiful card created by David. Further thank yous and catching up happened at the pub before we said our farewells and went our separate ways.

Thank you everyone for making my first group run as AA such a good one 👌🏼

We were asked to help York Archaeological Trust to clear the way for their next community excavation taking place at Willow House on Walmgate this autumn.

Helen, the task owner, and her friend welcomed and briefed us on the task.

Collect the cones to the bin bag - Helen

Nothing goes to waste and the pine cones will be used for a project with children. The main focus was on tidying up the car park area, making it ready for welfare facilities to go in. The other task involved removing weeds and other vegetation along the path leading to the building entrance.

To keep us motivated Helen brought some biscuits, bottled water and red gardening gloves which nicely matched with our t-shirts.

After 40 minutes of serious cones picking, shovelling, sweeping, trimming and weeding the car park looked a lot better and ready for the Archeology on Prescription events.

Watch this space, as we may be going back in the near future to tidy up the front garden.