Beating the impending heatwave (number 3 of 2025), we gathered in the shade at Workout (except Roddy who was determined to stand in the evening sun) and set off in two group - the runners with Richard now as a fully-fledged Fitness Leader (taking charge of the requisite First Aid Kit) and the walkers where no-one's really in charge and conversations are many and varied.

We had a plan, we knew we were preparing table cloths and decorations for the Festive Friends lunch on Friday, and watering the planters that were very dry. Except none of the decorations material shad been left out, so we kept ourselves busy with watering and weeding the edges of the building and front/side walls so he outside would look lovely for the Festive Friends. At least there wasn't a big pile of bunting to untangle!

There are planters of herbs and many fruits - a fig tree that's looking amazing (note to self - ensure we have a visit in 5 or 6 weeks' time when they should be ripening nicely), raspberries, gooseberries and wineberries where scientific sampling was carried out.

Then the Top Excitement of the evening overshadowed all other finding, conversations and puns as a little hedgehog was spotted and we ensured it found a quiet, shady spot to curl up. I say ensured, when we went back to check it had found itself a good temporary spot, but we're happy to take the credit as we COULD have helped if it had been needed.

We discussed a fitness session as the foot/cycle bridge is quite high, steps and slopes so lends itself, if only there'd not been an impending heatwave, and the pollution levels from the motorway below are possibly not ideal...

Soon we were climbing and descending the bridge just the once on our way back to Workout where it was the perfect evening for sitting out on the terrace.

Fantastic GoodGymming, Bristol!

Still the heatwave, 9 sweltering GoodGymmers set of from Workout to meet 2 more at the evening's task - Hebron Burial Ground. This is a project for the summer to help the local residents get some control in at least some of the space!

With thicker gloves deployed, Long and short snippers, the piles of brambles were soon growing but not before they'd drawn small amounts of blood from various GoodGymmers who'd chosen shorts over leggings in the heat. Congratulations to Frances who went with leggings anyway.

The secondary battle was with stinging nettles amongst the brambles, then with sticky bud whose seeds were targeted and thrown at other GGErs.

Some beautiful bees were making the most of the blossoms whilst other brambles already had delicious berries ready to eat.

Gerry and Jem had kindly provided water to keep us hydrated and we topped up before we made our excuses and headed back to the city and GoodGym Eats as it was the first Thursday of the month. Crispy Dosa was this month's venue with Dushyanthelping some of us choose tasty dosas and then found he'd ordered soup with lentil doughnuts (this may not be an accurate description).

Oh, and the Gromit Unleashed 3 trail is now live, with the GG obligation to take a photo with any sculpture you find when you're with at least one other GGer. Obviously.

The regular volunteers at Alice Park Community garden were pleased to welcome back 4 GoodGymmers on Sunday... Meyrick did a great job raising a water butt to allow water flow, Max worked hard shovelling compost while David got chopping to process fallen tree branches. Emily and David then had a mindfulness-like task of stripping leaves from the branches - we were left with a wheelbarrow full of compostable leaves and several ladybirds were rescued in the process :)

A warming up morning greeted 4 GGers and a lovely group of surfers against sewage. We sweeped across the Avon banks with our pickers wading through the long grass and finding loads of litter in the clear verges including a toy base ball bat to stimulate the pun. In the end we wheeled back 8 full bags of rubbish and bulky items. A big home run of rubbish saved from the Avon. Awesome 👌

It really was a (was a was a was a) knife evening. We set off sharply. The blade runners and knife walkers arrived… We picked through every blade… of grass. We carved through the park like a hot knife through butter. We… I give up with the knife puns now. We didn’t get all the litter but I’ll get to the point and cut to the chase…

Thanks for helping write the report everyone, this will only make sense to us. For some added information we went to Spith Street park and Dame Emily park and did some litter picking 👀

What a first session for Michael.

Shanks for the memories.

Until next time…