23 GoodGym Yorkies ended the August Bank Holiday with a trip the City Mills independent living to help clear the weeds from their patio areas.

We started the evening by giving a very warm GG welcome toKa Man who was doing their first ever GoodGym task, as well as welcoming Olivia along to her first Group Run and Tess who was returning for just her second. Give them all a big cheer 👏

Michal was in charge of tonight's session, so Ed and Vicky could have a bit of a rest, and led the run out with trip along the city walls much to the surprise of some oncoming tourists. We shortly arrived at City Mills to be greeted by Mary, one of the residents, who explained what we would be doing. There were a few different areas that needed our attention so we promptly split into groups and made a start tacking the weeds that were growing out of the patio areas.

Whilst the majority of the team got to work in the car park, ripping out weeds and the presumably unwanted saplings that were growing, a select few lucky GGers went round to the back of the building to a beautiful terrace area that overlooked the river. Everyone got stuck in with forks, trowels and sheer strength making light work of the task. So much so that Rich had enough time to have a little sit down on an abandoned loo!

James T and his broom were in high demand to make the finishing touches to the task before we all grouped around the GG flag for the group photo before heading off for a quick spot of fitness.

Being the fell-running guru that he is, Michal had the group running up and down the notoriously steep Baile Hill to varying degrees of enthusiasm. But everyone managed to make it up and down at least once (but by Gover definition it's only a rep if you've done it twice!)

Then it was back to the Priory Centre for a bit of stretching and plenty of sweet treats courtesy of some leftovers from the camping weekend and some delicious chocolate fridge cake from Babs!

Tonight we were celebrating Amy Woolard being crowned GoodGymer of the month and John Bourton reaching an outstanding 500 good deeds! Well done both of you.

Warming up, we numbered off giving our favourite thing about Canada in honour of it being Canada national day (full disclosure, I may have got the date wrong for this). Still, always good to big up Avril Lavigne. Then we split into two groups, some heading to Millennium Fields for raking up where the meadow had been given a trim, and some to Planet Southbank.

Vicky reports from Planet Southbank that the crack team was helping with some tasks in their community garden. One group cleared the fence so the railing could be painted, another helped to sort out the big pile of twigs and leaves and a third edged and dug over some beds. They also did a bit of litter picking. At the end they were rewarded with cake made by one of the neighbours and offered various bits of produce. They were very happy with our help and the little plot looked much neater afterwards.

Meanwhile at Millennium Fields we got stuck into the raking and dragging the cut grass over to the allotment compost bins where for reasons that escape me it was mixed with mud. For entirely predictable reasons Mitch jumped up on down on the top. Also, Abigail was spotted having a little nap on the soft pile. Many blackberries were also foraged. Mostly by me if I'm honest.

Both teams met up at Scarcroft Green for an olympic triathlon themed relay race (lacking a pool and bikes we made do with running, hopping, and skipping). Then it was back to the Priory Centre to warm down and off to the pub for beer and John's cake or legging it home to catch Kelly Hodgekinson bringing home the gold.