After a rewarding help out at the fair. several of us stayed on to help with the tidy up. As with many GG tasks several cheerful GGers can quickly pull gazebos down, move chairs and tables whilst simultaneously pick up litter.

Glad to help out the fair and at least at the end of the fair the queue had disappeared and Abigail got her ice cream....

Thankyou to the GGers who turned up to represent GG at the popular annual fair at West Bank Park. It was nice to see so many people enjoying the fair and be able to show off GoodGym and tell passers by who and what we do.

The gazebo was ready and Leanne arrived armed with a bag of rubbish. This was a clever idea to woo in the public with a prize (thankyou for the donated cinema tickets) of the 4 fastest litter pickers to pick up a collection of litter with a trusted litter picker.

All ages took part from small kids, adults and even the MP for York. Congrats to all those who won a prize but just nice to add to the whole community feel that other volunteers such as the Friends of West Bank go so much to trying to spread around the good people of York

An enjoyable day out and proud to tell others what we do

3 tasks in 1 today. Starting off by helping West Bank Park set up their summer fair. We were quickly issued with high vis & directed to set up the St Johns Ambulance gazebo. Luckily Leanne is an old hand at this & it was erect in seconds. Ed & Laura Ba were busy shifting tables & chairs around the park. After some initial location confusion three more gazebos went up in quick succession. Chairs were set up for the orchestra & audience with Laura Be, Leanne & Ed demonstrating air bassoon, guitar & knee drums. The 2nd task was setting up the Good Gym stand with Sam demonstrating how to use a sledgehammer for fitness. 3rd & last but not least was helping Laura Ba with the gazebo & setting up the Brunswick stand. Some of us headed home whilst some stayed to man their stalls.

The curse of the Himalayan Balsam strikes the Ouse once more. Time for York's hardy GoodGymers to head into the dense vegetation, braving nettles, bugs & trees to help rid the riverbank of this invader. The constant chatter & friendly banter occasionally interrupted by squawks of, "Ooh I've been bitten / nettled" or by the discovery of eye-catching wildlife. Today's spots were tansy beetles, deer, Feargal & a fierce looking unidentified caterpillar. Amy outlined the 'bend & snap' approach & many piles of bashed balsam were produced particularly by Ed, Leanne and Paul as they carved out dens under the willows. Jenna appeared from the river having paddle boarded to the task - against the wind. Good effort everyone.