If you go down to the woods today...you are sure of a Goodgym surprise!

Wow - This was a biggie and it was completed with a lot of help and hard work on the night!

This was a different type of task for Goodgym Poole.

So here is the story - A local gentleman, Mr Couzens asked the council if he could plant a bluebell wood opposite his flat in memory of his wife who had passed away a few years ago. They had done this and a few clumps of bluebells had come up but not the spread he had hoped for. He asked the council if he could have some more planted but they were not able to do this. Mr Couzens was happy to pay for the bulbs but is housebound so unable to plant or assist with planting and so the council approach us at Godogym to see if we can do the planting.

The initial contact came through a runner who also joined us tonight for her first Goodgym run - Judith - who was last seen running into the darkness on the return leg with Richard who I hear was on dinner duty! Even Shelley could not beat these two back to Daveena's even though she did half the distance in her Fiat 500!

For those who have come to Goodgym before, we usually have a task owner who meets us at the task and directs us, so this was a little different and took a lot more planning with equipment and bulbs!

So first of all big shout out to the support crew helping to make this happen tonight! Lisa, who usually goes to Goodgym Bournemouth, came to the task for 6.30 so she could set up the task for us. Patricia, who thought she maybe injured, agreed to take all the bulbs, tools and lights to the task ready for 6.30pm so it could be ready for us all. Thank you for her husband for helping too! Louise, (a qualified leader) who had never yet got to a Goodgym, met a group of runners at a mid way point so they could take a shorter route. Elizabeth, collected a bag of tools from all her gardening friends, labelled them and leaving for me to collect for Pat to take to task. Even my mum's garage was emptied of garden tools (thanks mum!) Both Lisa and Louise met at the task on Saturday so we could take a daylight look at the wood as it was feeling a little overwhelming knowing where to start with this.

To add to the planning, our planned local supplier was not able to give us the bulbs needed and on Saturday it was a last minute order from Amazon Prime to get it delivered in time. The bulbs arrived at 2pm on the day of the task so it was a pretty nerve wracking morning.

Due to the number of bulbs that needed planting it was important to get as many people as possible to attend so there was three groups. An opportunity to come direct to the task for any non runners, A shorter run meeting half way and the usual group going from Daveena's as usual.

It was great to turn up after 5km run to the task, to see already 10 or so runners with lights in the wood working in pairs, planting away! Considering it is halloween this week, there was a slightly creepy air at times to see these moving lights amongst the darkness, not knowing who it was until you were closer. There was a shout from Elizabeth at one point to say, she had still not found the body, lets hope no one was passing at that point! ;) Sam, who had brought along her husband (purely to stand with a light!) was seen holding up a wriggling worm at one point giving a slightly creepy look with the light behind it!

We did have one spectator and that was from the balcony opposite which was Mr Couzens appartment!

It was very much get on and plant tonight and pairs worked closely together, a bag of bulbs between them, a tool or two and a head torch! As we got towards 30 minutes, first timers Mel and Nicki, were a little concerned they were the only ones with a big bag left! But quickly distributed amongst other runners, it was getting apparent that we would be able to finish! Last bag or so left and a handful each and 5 minutes later they were all planted! So there we have it - an empty box, bits of paperbags, a few broken tools from an over zealous runner (Lisa!!!) and 3000 bulbs had been planted!

On the side note - It was a slightly odd look to see Nicki and Judith running down the road, holding their own trowels in their hands!

Welcome to our other new runners Melody and Sally for finally making it down to join us! Kirsty, another local run leader also joined us at the task (thank goodness as meant she could take all the equipment back!). Finally one of the Poole parkrun core team members Mel came down! Bring a total of 8 new runners tonight.

Well done everyone for all efforts, it really was a complete team effort to make it happen.

We cannot wait till next spring to go back and see how the bluebells are growing!

PS: Once again my photo skills were lacking but it's dark, bulbs aren't pretty and we wanted to plant a lot of them! 😁