GoodGym Huddersfield had a big challenge last night, to move a mahoosive mound of mud at the Little Deer Activity Woods Centre in Mirfield. The challenge would have been even greater had we run the 8K from the Stadium and the 8K back, but in order to leave time for the task the kind folk (and GoodGym fans) at Battyeford Sporting Club allowed us to use their car park as a meeting point.

A different start location means a different run route and this one being almost entirely flat was something of a rarity for Huddersfield GoodGymmers. Three level kilometres along riverside footpaths and canal towpaths was very pleasant on a warm sunny September evening.....what a treat!

There was a stop for a photo op as in my rucksack was the brand new GoodGym flag supplied only last week for the purposes of celebrating 10 years GoodGym good deeds. The instruction from GoodGym Central was to photograph the flag (and GoodGym group of course) alongside a local landmark. As we were out of area, a shot with Mirfield’s new, extensive and very impressive community mural had to suffice, although if you look hard you will spot that we managed to choose a section which mentions Huddersfield!

Little Deer Activity Centre was a hive of activity when we arrived with kids everywhere getting ready for their evening adventures, rock climbing, paddle boarding, gardening and woodworking there was so much going on! And plenty for GoodGym to get stuck into too. Gloves, barrows, spades and an impressive set of worklights were ready and waiting for us along with the aforementioned Mahoosive Mound of Mud which needed to be shifted. Not only shifted, but also sifted, removing all the rocks and stones leaving good soil for use in the centre’s gardens. Once cleared the site is to be used for a new shed to store the centre’s huge variety of activity equipment.

Following a quick introduction from Little Deer’s Martin the crew were on with the job, neatly dividing into a teams of rubble removers, diggers, soil sifters (or riddlers as I believe they are more accurately called- thanks Ben Godfrey) and barrow pushers. We worked like a well oiled production line, Kati Law, Jo Talbot and Zena Whalley got busy removing rubble, with David Bilton digging, whilst Louise Galvin, Helen Rutherford and Mark Donnelley sifted the soil through a huge basket removing all the smaller stones, twigs and various other detritus. The final stage of the process was for Ben Godfrey and myself to trundle the wheelbarrows filled with good soil 50 metres to the centre’s soil hopper for use on the veg beds.

GoodGym works best when we work together, and we worked hard last night, getting a good workout with plenty of laughter alongside the labour. Whilst we worked it was great to see kids of all abilities learning to rock climb together on the outdoor, floodlit climbing wall, Little Deer Wood Activity Centre truly is a special place.

After an hour we’d made a significant dent in the Mahoosive Mound of Mud and there was considerably more soil in the hopper, but the job wasn’t done by any means. I think this one will turn into a longer term GoodGym Huddersfield project over the winter, with return visits to finish the task.

Leaving Little Deer it was on with the headtorches for the first time this year and back to Battyeford by a different route, seeing some more glamorous sights of Mirfield including the new Lidl and “Ivy Alley”. A fast finish across Battyeford’s football fields and we were back at the starting point, tired but secure in the knowledge that GoodGym Huddersfield’s sphere of influence has now extended to Mirfield.

Happy Birthday GoodGym....10 year’s of doing good. The GoodGym Huddersfield crew look forward to being part of the GoodGym journey for the next 10 years.....it might just take us that long to shift the Mahoosive Mound of Mud!

Thanks to all for making it a great night, and special thanks to Louise for the photos.