Tonight we are joining the wonderful Grow Cardiff at their site over at the Grange Medical Centre.

But before we start the jog of joy, we have some welcomes to make...

Owen and Samuel, thank you for joining goodgym on your very first task.

Croeso

A longer route out to the task to help us hit those km goals this week. It wasn't too long until we were at the task. A quick chat about the project and what they do. Supporting social prescribing to therapeutic community gardens for health and well-being.

Our task tonight, to finish updating the polytunnel. Removing old wooden batons, old netting and the old plastic behind this. All to help with temperature control in the Summer months.

We started with filling out the new net to get the right size for cutting, whilst the old batons were quickly removed with a crowbar. Then it was time for us to get destructive, ripping down the old netting and plastic with the might of goodgym arms. Everyone had a section and ripped until, like a plaster, it was all down.

We can rebuild you, we have the technology

It was time to get the plastic cut to length, but the only piece that we had was exceptionally large. As the evening started to get a bit windy, it took the entire group to keep it in place on the floor - that's what the weight of goodgym is for. The Grow Cardiff team got to cutting with the Stanley knife, and then the volunteers held it up in place just to check that the size was okay.

As we held the plastic in place, Chris went around with the (temperamental) staple gun, securing it to its final position. It took 2 pieces of plastic to cover the length of the polytunnel, so plenty of time for the volunteers to get chatty with each other.

The plastic had to be trimmed, but whilst this was done by grow Cardiff, we started on the opposite end securing the length of netting. As we met in the middle it looked a little bit like we were trying to catch a gardener with our net...(see pictures).

The final task for the evening, to put the batons in place to secure everything fully. This involved cutting pieces to length and then nailing them into position.

Hammer time

Everyone had a go, as the three hammers where passed around with the nails. Dylan took a hammering, Samuel & Owen nailed it. Aaron managed to break his phone screen protector...still not sure how. Jonathan was our act of chivalry as he gave his goodgym jacket to a cold Lucy, now forever know as Chief Hammerer Lucy.

Finally finished (a bit later than usual), it was time for a quick group photo before heading out on a shorter run back (to make up for time).

Join us next week as we celebrate our 09th anniversary of goodgym in Cardiff. Sign up here to join us at Samye for our task and celebration (there will be cake!)

11 goodgymers were raring to go, eager to help out another community project.

It's Tuesday, it's goodgym

A short run from our start location, Darren led to run out, a nice easy jg along the river Taff on a Spring evening. As we arrived at the Church and community Centre we met with the task organiser. Unfortunately the gold paint had been forgotten, so that task was off the table, but there was still plenty to do.

Welcome back Wendy, glad you've chosen to return.

We split into 2 groups, one to weed and tidy up the back of the Church and one to complete some garden maintenance at the front of the Church.

But before we got to work on the weeding it was time to embarrass Rosie with her badge. She had hit a milestone last task, and hit her 50th good deed. As it was missed we decided to give her her giant 50 badge on this task.

Well done Rosie

The back of the church was hard at work, removing those weeds and clearing moss dropped onto drain covers. But still time to stop and give us a pose for a good photo...

gilet Su

Around the front was the bush cutting trials. As Julian, our organiser was clearing the roof of moss, we were cutting back Hebe, tidying planters and sweeping like we were in Mary Poppins....

Helo Teddy

As we were clearing we thought we'd found our new goodgym mascot, in a bush of all places.

Winnie the Pun!

As we closed down the Volunteering, it was decided that the Bear looked better in the bush.

It's the new mascot for the Church.... A quick group photo and it was time to head back yo the start location for a nice social. Goodgymers, you rock... Always Bear-lieve in yourself!

Back at the Glassworks we were joined by Flora, there for a DBS check in order to start older people missions. She decided to join the party and stay with the group, hoping we see you soon at a group task too.

Join us next week as we return to the wonderful grow Cardiff in Grangetown to help with their community garden at the medical hub.

Sign up here

10 Goodgymers headed back to Global Gardens on a lovely sunny evening. We were here two weeks ago clearing the weeds on the fences but tonight we were preparing a space for a new planter.

Welcome Wendy to the house!

Welcome to Wendy who attended her first GG task tonight, hopefully it will be the first of many! Also, welcome back to Aaron who joined for the first time last week. Always great to have new members, spread the word good(gym) people!

Barrow, is it me you are looking for?!?

Whether it be running, walking or cycling we arrived at 7pm and got straight on with the task at hand. We had to clear a space of the rubbish, weeds and brambles thats going to be used as a new planter bed. We got the tools and the numerous wheelbarrows ready and everyone got going……..well nearly everyone as Dylan has gone to the wrong allotment! Oops!

The team had a good system going and soon there was two bags of rubbish collected. The barrows were ferrying back and forth to clear the twigs and weeds away and by then time we had to leave there was a large area of soil on display! Jake has now patented his double decker wheel barrow - see pic!

Waste not want not

We also found some rogue vegetables in the pile, so Lucy popped them in her bag to replant at home.

Some folks headed home and the rest to the pub to watch an epic Champions league match, followed by some Crazy Taxi and Karaoke. What a great Tuesday!

Welcome to your first group task Aaron, we are very happy to have you with goodgym

CROESO

And, happy 50th mission to our regular Rosie - black t-shirt coming your way soon.

On a beautiful sunny evening, 9 goodgymers joined together for a run and cycle to help out at the wonderful charity "Cwtch Together". Our tasks for the evening were;

• Cut back the grass as much as possible
• Remove any stingy plants
• Fork over the ground in at the corner of the building, and level the ground
• Open the box......what's in the box?

Sarah, our task organiser had found a locked box whilst continuing to clear the corner outside and was unsure what was in it. The corner had been cleared on our last visit, and now the plan was to level the ground and then lay some paving slabs on there for an additional storage area.

Whilst Michael and Jonathan got the tools from inside the hall, the rest of the team had ripped open the box - like an angry version of deal or no deal.

Oh, what a disappointment

Not even a penny to be seen, it was nothing more than old soil in the box. At least we now know.

Now lets get cracking, Jonathan was straight onto strimming with the cordless, Aaron also strimming but with the corded version and Emily on the flymo. Not the easiest of gardens to cut back, a very uneven and bumpy ground for a mower where the fly was a little less than you wanted in a flymo, but it made for a good workout having to push more. The cordless kid made light work of taking back the grass, as Jonathan completed a quarter of the garden on his own - only stopping when the battery died. Aaron and Emily worked their areas, limited by the length of the cords and only able to move with the extension lead as a group. Great team effort as they made a the garden look at lot better and ready for the young people to use for outside activities on the next sessions for Cwtch Together (weather permitting).

Jake and Llion were scuttering around the garden, removing the stingy baddies as they went. Some areas weren't on the strimming and mowing list, so these had to be done by hand tools alone.

Rosie, Dylan and Dylan took to the corner forking and talking, getting stuck in. Some bits of rubbish were found and removed as the soil was broken up, and then the leveling began. Another good work out for the evening, and it looked great once finished.

We have made a massive difference on this task, and i'm sure that the young people will love using the outside space again this year. A quick photo and it was time to run, cycle and walk back for a little social and catch up.

See you next time.

Returning to support Ms S felt a bit like stepping back into a familiar chapter and it was lovely to be remembered. This was my second time helping her out, and the day came with a tidy little to‑do list: hang the new bedroom curtains and investigate the doorbells.

I started with the curtains, which I suspected would be the easier win of the day. Thankfully, I came prepared with my trusty screwdriver kit. A bit of “lefty‑loosey, righty‑tighty,” and soon enough the new curtains were up and looking great.
Ms S was delighted with the fresh look in her bedroom, which made the effort all the more worthwhile. Next up: the doorbells. Both had gone suspiciously quiet. The culprit? Batteries.
A quick swap and the front door bell sprang back to life.

However, one last job due to pending supplies - the back door bell was a bit more stubborn. It needed a different type of battery, one we didn’t have on hand. So that task remains on the “to be continued” list for next time.

7 Goodgym folks ran to Global Gardens for the first of two visits there in April. For todays task we took to the lane to cut back the bushes and weeds that were spilling out from the allotment.

We all got to work with our secateurs, snipping away at the stingy nettles and overhanging bushes. It was therapeutic and rewarding work and we were making good progress.

Pants People (TOTP reference for you young folks!)

Jonny worked tirelessly trying to rescue an old pair of pants from the top of the bushes. Y? Coz he was briefs undie a spell!

We had taken two wheel barrows to transport the cuttings back into Global Gardens, but soon the lane was awash with greenery that the barrows could not cope with! I think it was Martin who realized the pile we needed to transport the offcuts to was just over the fence!.... Cut to...... all 7 of us trying to lob the piles of leaves, branches and nettles over the fence! ;o) Michael went around and kindly climbed aboard the bramble pile and stomped it into submission!

Stick Stick Stick Sticky Stick Stick

Once we had finished Ben fashioned a stick to help clear up the smaller leaves and twigs left in the absence of a broom. It was no Penny Lane, but it was a tidier lane!

We ran back in the drizzle for a well earned drink and chat in the pub.