Despite the stormy weather and circulating thunder ⛈️, Peter and Ben rolled up their sleeves for a strenuous weeding session at Gorse Hill Studios 🌱

Along with Rachel, Cathy, and Duncan from the Studios, we were tasked with removing as much ivy and weeds as possible from the border. It was no small task and with the thunderous background, we set to work with loppers choppers, saw, and secateurs ✂️

We unearthed a lot of roots, rubbish 🗑 tennis balls 🥎 and a broom end (we initially thought it was a hedgehog 🦔). We freed the planted bushes and a rose bush and left the area in a much better state than we found it. Meanwhile, the compost pile is now huge and Rachel measured out the pond area.

Well hydrated with a cup of tea, we also blitzed some weeding at the allotment, watered the polytunnel plants 🪴, and planted cucumber 🥒 and more squash 🎃 in the garden. Job well done all round 👏 💪

Good session with Smithfield Garden Club, clearing lots of litter from an area near The Wheatsheaf in Northern Quarter 🚮

Welcome to Tyla for the first time, joining a bumper group for a rare Wednesday night task.

Louise and Phil were in charge with Robert, landlord at the Wheatsheaf, also lending an able hand. We got bag rings, gloves, bin bags, a makeshift sharps bin, and brooms with dustpan to do a loop of the area.

Some notable collections:

• battery 🔋
• mattress 🛏
• hoover
• various clothing 👖
• lots of broken bottles, glass, cans

We also trimmed one of the communal beds and had an introduction to the amazing work the local group had done to develop the area, including some of the planted areas that were looking good 🌳🌱🍃

Stefanie, Peter, and Ben made the trip to Gorse Hill Studios for another task as part of their Green Rooms project. We joined Katie, Duncan, Lisa, and Rebecca from Gorse Hill Studios.

This evening we were at the Studios to continue in the outside area. Our task was to plant 10 hedge trees and another taller Aralia elata 🌳🌱🍃

With the soil still dry, stoney, and full of rubble and 20+ year old crisp packets, the going was tough with deep and wide holes needed. Looking like a scene from Holes, we used forks to loosen up the soil and spades to dig out as much earth as possible. In addition, the tree roots needed releasing from their compact tangle to encourage growth, not an easy task.

After a couple of hours, copious biscuits 🍪 and a cup of tea 🍵 , we managed to break the back of the task with ALL the trees planted and looking splendid in the evening sunshine 🌞 We topped up with compost and generously watered, hoping the stormy weather this week will keep them well hydrated.

We cleared up and said our farewells. I'm still astounded we got all of them planted so strong effort 💪

Welcome to Charly for their first GoodGym Manchester outing!

This week's session moved to Thursday after a change in plan from Katie. We were out on the allotment this week with a list of tasks:

• Remove bind weed (an endless task...) 🌱
• Install the fencing
• Plant out tomatoes 🍅 from the poly tunnel
• Weeding and laying membrane
• Laying woodchip

Peter was in his element with plants and brought along some squash to plant in a little pumpkin 🎃 patch.

We installed the fencing, weeded like demons, and laid as much black matting or membrane as possible using pegs to secure down. With a tonne bag of woodchip, we emptied the bag to leave a healthy layer covering a part of a communal area.

Finally, we watered what we could and cleared up before heading home.

Really productive task despite the heat 🥵 and Katie was really happy with the progress. We'll be back.