This week for our group run we ran up the hill through High Town to our task on Hitchin road where community clean-up coordinator Kevin from ABCD Luton and some local residents had already got started.

A couple of road-side areas were overgrown with shrubs and weeds and needed cutting back and tidying up. On arrival our team were tooled up with shears, saws, loppers and brushes and set to cutting back and clearing up.

With our large team we managed to clean up a huge stretch of road and filled an amazing five big bags of cuttings which needed dragging up the hill to the point that the council was booked to collect from.

Before retreating back down the hill we took a few minutes to do a few rounds of walking lunges, crunches and squats in the park to round off an energetic evening.

This week we returned to a community garden on Bristol Road that we helped set up a while back. Since then a small group of people, including Gareth and Kev who met us there have been trying to keep control of the space but the brambles and weeds that used to be there were making a comeback!

Our team arrived on bikes and by running and walking to all pitch in and reclaim the ground from the weeds. 40 minutes later we'd make a bit pile of green waste.

We also topped up some of the raised beds with topsoil that needed shoveling into a barrow and moved down from the entrance.

Our monthly commitment to support Luton Wardown Parkrun, was as strong as ever this morning. 9 of Luton Goodgyms finest supported across a wide range of volunteering tasks, Gail helped the set up team early doors before the rest of the team turned up and then went on to run 🏃‍♀️ 👍🏻. Whilst the rest of us helped out with Marshal duties and Park walking 🚶‍♀️. Big shout out to Pam who stuck with one of the visually impaired attendees, making sure he got to the finish safely. 😀 Well done today team. fantastic effort by all.

This week we had two tasks on offer again as we continue to make the most of the good summer weather.

The walking group headed off to meet new task owner Rajab from the Safer Luton Partnership, supported by Kevin from ABCD luton who provided tools. The task was to clean up the communal garden at a sheltered housing block so that the residents can regain control and start looking after the place themselves and enjoy growing nice plants instead of weeds.

Meanwhile a combined running and biking team headed out to the distant Bradley Road allotment where previous clear ups have brought this allotment back into a tidy state nearly ready for new allotment tenants. Our task this time was to clean up the entrance area and the access road of the litter and fly-tipped bundles of tree branches to make the approach more attractive. bollards will be installed on the track to prevent.

When both tasks were complete each team headed back into town under the glow of a sunset rainbow 🌈 to complete the evening.